Riverhead to host East End youth summit on mental health, suicide prevention
More than 100 high school students from across the East End are expected to gather in Riverhead next week for a youth leadership summit featuring workshops on mental health, healthy relationships and suicide prevention.
The annual East End Youth Leadership Summit, hosted by the East End Partnership for Youth, will be held Friday, Nov. 6, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Suffolk County Community College’s Riverhead Campus.
Students will participate in interactive workshops and hands-on activities designed to improve communication, resolve conflicts, explore emotions through creative expression and build healthier relationships.
A grant from Paddlers for Humanity will support Question, Persuade, Refer, or QPR, suicide prevention training. Participants will learn to recognize warning signs of a potential suicide crisis, offer support and connect people with appropriate resources.
The East End Partnership for Youth is a coalition of organizations promoting positive youth development across the East End. Participating organizations include Riverhead CAP, the Town of Southold, Southampton Youth Bureau, Family Service League, i-tri, HUGS Inc., Paddlers for Humanity and Our Fabulous Variety Show.
Jennifer Palencia of The Retreat will lead “Back Down Gracefully,” an interactive workshop on taking accountability, apologizing sincerely and repairing relationships.
Kasia Klimiuk, executive director of Our Fabulous Variety Show, will use storytelling, role-playing and creative activities in “Exploring Mental Health Through Creative Expression.”
Jeremy Butler, ICAN’s chief administrative officer, will lead “Unmute: Part Deux,” a hands-on workshop focused on communication, self-expression, boundaries, decision-making and youth mental health.
For more information, call the Southampton Youth Bureau at 631-702-2425 or email [email protected].
