Just like first aid and CPR, this is valuable knowledge for everyone to have in their toolkit to support a healthy family and community. Join this webinar to learn how to support youth in crisis.

The new Mercer Island School District policy around cell phone use during the school day is responsive to the science of known risks and benefits. Mercer Island Youth and Family Services (YFS) offers tips and resources for parents to support their child/teen during the transition to phone-free school days.

If you weren’t able to join us for the 2024 MI Healthy Youth Forum -- check out a recap of what was shared and what we learned!

Fentanyl and other substances are negatively impacting the health of youth and adults in our region. Be informed about the serious risks of fentanyl and learn how you can protect yourself, your family, and others.

June is Pride Month! The mission of the Mercer Island Healthy Youth Initiative (HYI) is to successfully launch every Mercer Island youth into adulthood with a foundation of physical and mental health, well-prepared to cope with the academic, social, and emotional challenges of adulthood. Youth survey data shows that LGBTQ+ youth experienced an elevated risk of anxiety and depression due to the isolation during COVID. There are many ways we can support our youth and minimize the risks to ensure that all youth grow up feeling supported and seen. Check out resources to support our youth!

Island Space is a movement that promotes healthy lifestyles for teens in Mercer Island. Growing up here is different. There can be lots of demands on your space. Grades. Homework. Sports. Extracurriculars. Relationships. The pressure to succeed is real.

“Take Five” is an online tool to support youth mental health and wellbeing. The free and anonymous tool is designed to provide a personal, private, self check-in for youth about their emotional state and coping strategies. The tool gives individualized feedback to students and also provides factual information about what other high school students are experiencing to give students perspective.

Washington state has a teen smoking and vaping problem and it’s growing. When it comes to youth drug prevention, parents make a difference. Teens who believe that their parents will respond negatively to their drug use are less likely to use alcohol, nicotine, marijuana and other drugs. Access resources that provide data and tips for talking with your kids about vaping.

The Institute for Behavior and Health is reframing the goal of substance use prevention as One Choice: no use of any alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, or other drugs by youth under age 21 for reasons of health. The One Choice message is based on 3 main facts: 1) The developing brain is uniquely vulnerable to substance use. 2) For teens, all substance use is related. 3) More than ever, young people are making one choice.

New underage drinking prevention tool, “Talk. They Hear You.” is a free mobile app that helps parents prepare for important conversations about underage drinking with their child. The app provides parents of children and adolescents ages 9 to 15 with the tools and information they need to start talking with their children early about the developmental, academic and health risks of underage alcohol use.

HYI partners with King County new fentanyl overdose prevention campaign, targeted specifically to reach young people between the ages of 14 to 18 years old. Laced & Lethal is designed to teach teens about the risk of buying pills and powders potentially laced with fentanyl, a powerful and often deadly drug.

How often do you think high school students and young adults in King County use marijuana? The answer is “MOST Steer Clear.” Voices from the student run radio station, Mercer Island High School’s KMIH 88.9 The Bridge hit the airwaves this month to share why they, like MOST young people in King County steer clear of using marijuana, alcohol, and other substances.

Non-clinical support to people experiencing elevated stress due to COVID-19. Call 1-833-681-0211 to be connected to a live support specialist.