At a glance
The East Providence Prevention Coalition is promoting mental health among high schoolers and preventing vaping in their communities.
"Stronger Together" mental health first aid training
Many high school students in East Providence, Rhode Island know what to do when a peer is struggling with their mental health. Trained in mental health first aid, these students offer support or share resources with a peer who may need it. The mental health first aid training is called "Stronger Together" and takes about two hours to complete. It's an introduction to understanding, recognizing, responding to, and promoting mental health awareness within your community. It can be done as a self-paced online module, virtual, or in-person training. But it wasn't always available for youth.
The East Providence Prevention Coalition (EPPC) became interested in "Stronger Together" when Bethanie Rado, Youth and Media Relations Coordinator for EPPC, saw creator Dr. Jordyn Hagar present on the program at a regional conference. Bethanie reached out to Dr. Hagar to request a modification to tailor the program for youth. The two of them collaborated to create a "Stronger Together" program for teens. As of December 2024, 218 youth in the East Bay region have completed the training with support from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in January 2023.
Dr. Hagar says, "When Bethanie approached me about adapting the "Stronger Together" program for a youth audience, I was immediately excited. The original "Stronger Together" program seemed to help people feel more comfortable recognizing mental health issues and talking to people they were concerned about, and I loved the idea of giving adolescents the opportunity to develop their awareness and confidence regarding mental health as well. So many of the adolescents we work with already have knowledge about mental health, and they always seem to appreciate learning about how to help someone they are worried about. Our biggest takeaway has been that youth want to talk about mental health, and they want to be able to help one another. The youth "Stronger Together" program has been an impactful way to have those conversations."
So often, people are afraid to ask if others are ok because, what if they say no? What do you do then? "Stronger Together" prepares you and makes you feel confident in your ability to handle the situation when that happens.
- Bethanie Rado, EPPC
Working with retailers and law enforcement
EPPC staff have partnered with local law enforcement to facilitate compliance checks of tobacco retailers throughout the community. In the state of Rhode Island, tobacco retailers are not allowed to sell flavored vape products. In East Providence specifically, if retailers violate this rule, law enforcement gives them 24 hours to remove the products or else they seize the products. Reducing access to substances is an effective strategy to prevent and reduce youth substance use.1 This work has led to a reduction in youth vaping in East Providence. According to the Rhode Island Student Survey (RISS) there was a significant decrease in youth past 30-day ENDS use — down by almost 38% from 2022 to 2024. Rates dropped from 6.1% in 2022 to 3.8% in 2024 among students in grades 6-10.2
One particularly unique aspect of the work with retailers in East Providence is translating information into Portuguese. Many store owners, managers, and employees are first-generation immigrants. Having policies available in Portuguese helps them understand the regulations around the sale of tobacco, vape products, and alcohol. Madeline Marlow, the East Providence Prevention Coalition Project Coordinator, shared: "East Providence has a large and vibrant Portuguese-speaking population, including individuals of Portuguese, Brazilian, and Cape Verdean descent. This community makes up a significant portion of our residents, and it's vital that our prevention and education efforts are inclusive and culturally relevant."
Bethanie says, "In doing this work, I have come to realize that substance use affects everyone. It doesn't matter how much money you make, where you went to school, or who your parents are. I work to educate youth about the dangers of using because I really believe that if they are given the tools to understand, that they can and will make better choices. There isn't anyone who can say that substance use hasn't touched their lives or affected their family somehow. I think prevention (of negative outcomes) is the thread that really connects us all."
- International Journal of Biology and Pharmacy Research Updates. Public health strategies for preventing youth substance use: A review of prevention programs and conceptual approaches: https://doi.org/10.53430/ijbpru.2024.3.1.0022
- Rhode Island Student Survey | RI State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup