Community Conversations: Youth Mental Health & Preventing Addiction

Join in a collaborative community conversation on the effects of trauma and its connection to potential addictions and impact on mental health.

Hosted by Essex County Community Services Board, Building Resilience in Essex Families (BRIEF) Coalition, and ECHO, a series of collaborative conversations on April 16th, 18th, 23rd, and 25th will focus on the effects of childhood trauma, known as ACE’s (Adverse Childhood Experiences), and its connection to potential addictions and impact on mental health. Community members, local organizations and leaders will share about opportunities to make a positive difference in Essex County.

ALL EVENTS 6-8 PM

Boquet Valley CSD┃April 16th, Mountain View Campus, Elizabethtown, NY

Schroon Lake CSD┃April 18th, Schroon Lake, NY

Willsboro School┃April 23rd, Willsboro, NY

Ticonderoga CSD┃April 25th, Ticonderoga Elementary School, Ticonderoga, NY

Family members, counselors, teachers, school administrators, medical providers, elected officials, law enforcement, organizations, peer advocates and specialist community members are encouraged to join the conversation.

Essex County by the facts:

  • 2023 had more completed suicides than the combined total of 2021 & 2022
  • Overdoses and fatal overdoses have increased in 2023.

Each event will include introductions by town supervisors and a presentation by Zachary Randolph, interim CEO of St. Joseph’s, about the connection between trauma and addictions. A panel discussion with community members about how resiliency and protective factors can be effective in reducing the impact of ACE’s on future addictions and mental health will follow. Audience members will be able to ask questions of community member panelists at each event.


Events in this series are hosted by Essex County Community Services Board, BRIEF and ECHO and funded by an RCORP grant through Hudson Mohawk Area Health Education Center (AHEC).