2023 Partners in Prevention Conference

The opening plenary for the 2023 Partners in Prevention Conference will expound on the idea of grounding ourselves in best practices by providing a framework for the intersection of mental health and nature in our prevention efforts. Our speakers will give an overview of the state of our overall mental health based on both national and state statistics. Current trends and research will illustrate the many benefits to our health and wellbeing spending time in nature and natural settings can provide.  Examples from community, campus and statewide resources will help participants see how they can get started with creating a prevention connection to the great outdoors. See why Tennesseans need nature NOW more than ever.  

Join us for a delicious working lunch and connect with prevention coalitions from across Tennessee. Discussion topics will include:

The 2023 Tennessee legislative session will have recently ended on May 4, 2023. A review of the key activities will be presented by PAT CEO Stephanie Strutner for review and discussion.  There will also be conversations with Lacey Hartigan from EMT Associates and Dave Walker with the Tennessee National Guard.

Part I:  Parks & Prevention Partnerships
One of Carter County Drug Prevention's most valuable partners is Elizabethton Parks and Recreation. Since 2010, the organizations have worked together on dozens of community events and activities each year. They also implemented a community mentorship program for at-risk youth and the coalition offers support to the parks and rec department through provision of ACEs, trauma informed care, harm reduction and safe needle pick-up and Narcan trainings. Jilian and Kelly have spoken at National Recreation and Parks Association conferences and other national events about their partnership and its successes and are hopeful that prevention partners will gain strategies for creating similar parks and rec partnerships in their own communities through this presentation.

Part II:  Creating the Conduit to Nature for Improved Health
How can we make the outdoors, as a resource for improved health and well-being, more accessible? This is the question that Healthy Parks Healthy Person (HPHP) seeks to address. And we believe the answer fits in the palm of your hand. HPHP is an app-based program created to increase Tennessee residents’ overall health through incentivized outdoor activity. It is through this simply designed, free app that HPHP is making the outdoors, and its benefits, more equitable for all residents of Tennessee, regardless of who they are, where they live in the state, or how much money they make. It is also helping to equip them with basic outdoor gear so they can continue to get outdoors for improved health.

Those who have been treated for substance misuse often have co-occurring mental health problems including depression, PTSD, anxiety disorders, and some personality disorders. Additionally, people with substance use disorders are at elevated risk for suicidal ideation and attempts. In fact, suicide is a leading cause of death among people who misuse alcohol and drugs. This session will explore the dual dynamics of substance use disorder and suicide and increase participants’ knowledge of warning signs and who is most at risk for suicide.

This session offers participants a meditative and soothing experience by combining mindfulness and creative expression through painting terra cotta pots. Participants will learn about the calming effects of plants and the importance of self-care for mental wellness. At the end of the session, participants will take home a completed terra cotta pot painted in their own  style, along with a succulent plant of their choosing to nurture and grow. This session also encourages participants to facilitate future sessions themselves, providing guidance and resources to replicate the experience in their own campus or community.

This plenary will fast walk attendees away from Woodstock Weed to 21st Century Marijuana. The presentation will explore new high THC products, their marketing strategies, and the impacts to use. There will be a specific emphasis on the impacts to mental health, especially in adolescents and young adults as well as insight into the environmental impacts of marijuana cultivation and commercialization. The session will close with a call to action on focused prevention strategies aimed at decreasing access and availability to youth and other vulnerable populations.

Prevention in a changing marijuana landscape can be challenging but is not impossible. This presentation will give an overview of federal and state marijuana policies and highlight strategies to mitigate community harms.

By nearly every metric, youth mental health and behavioral health is worsening. During the 2020–2021 school year, over 60% of college students met the criteria for at least one mental health problem, according to the Healthy Minds Study, which collects data from 373 campuses nationwide. As most health practitioners and community leaders are aware, mental health is often interlinked with substance use disorders, and vice versa. These numbers continue to rise and serve as a national call to all specialists — in every discipline — to become equipped to battle this growing youth crisis. Today’s youth must gain heightened sensitivity of unhealthy behaviors, and be supplied with the resources and support to overcome challenging odds. This session explores the rise in digital media, and its increasing effectiveness in spreading awareness and delivering health messaging to Millennials, Gen Z, and generations beyond. Over 98% of college students currently use social media, some spending more than six hours per week doing so. By leveraging digital media strategies and tools to reach these audiences, we’ll be meeting youth right where they are with positive messaging for healthier outcomes nationwide.

From demographic research analysis to health campaign evaluation, this session equips practitioners with the strategies and tools to successfully execute a health communication campaign to increase positive behaviors. This workshop will provide an overview of health theory, campaign plan development, use of digital tools and proper post-campaign evaluation. If you’re looking to design and run an evidence-based, comprehensive health campaign, this is the workshop for you!