For Teens
'SUP Exists for you - Literally!
YOU. The whole purpose of ‘SUP Medway is to support YOU as a young Medway resident to make healthy choices. The coalition needs your guidance (and participation) to be effective at preventing people your age from getting caught in addictive substances like nicotine and alcohol. If challenges arise or mistakes were made, we want you to get the care you need.
Below you will find ways to make a direct difference in your school and community, plus there is a selection of resources SPECIFICALLY FOR TEENS.
Get Involved
1. STARS Student Group
STARS are Students Thriving and Resisting Substances. Our STARS mission is to empower hopeful teens to create a healthy Medway community through fun activities, education, and advocacy.
Build leadership skills and have fun while making a positive impact! Looks great on resume and food is always provided. Projects we’ve done include Sticker Shock partnering with local stores and a Photovoice project that we presented to School Committee. Past trips have included Orlando, FL, Nashville, TN, Gillette Stadium, Boston State House, Worcester State University and more!
What’s in it for you?
Make a positive impact
Earn community service hours
Build Skills & Boost Resume
Field trips & conferences
Apparel, gift cards and swag
Student voice: YOUR perspectives make a change
Influence lawmakers & Medway leaders
Meet student leaders from other schools
Make a positive impact
Earn community service hours
Build Skills & Boost Resume
Field trips & conferences
Apparel, gift cards and swag
Student voice: YOUR perspectives make a change
Influence lawmakers & Medway leaders
Meet student leaders from other schools
2. Internships
‘SUP Medway hosts a high school senior intern through the Innovation Career Pathways (ICP) program. Interns take on a project that makes a positive impact on their community while learning skills to catapult their professional career. Projects and tasks can range from marketing communications to health education so students either in the Healthcare/Social Assistance track or the Business/Finance track can be matched to the ‘SUP coalition. Past internship projects included Quit Kit and Monthly Journal Prompts. Interns also have the opportunity to meet with coalition members to hear their experiences and learn more about possible career paths. If you are an ICP student and interested in interning with ‘SUP Medway, please email ICP Program Coordinator Carly Brousseau
3. WhyTry
WhyTry is a multi-week resiliency program that uses visual metaphors to help students develop important skills like decision-making, dealing with peer pressure, impulse control, goal setting, and problem-solving. Implemented in small groups, each unit has many teaching tools that can be tailored to the unique group of students in the program. ‘SUP Medway is supporting this program at Medway Schools through grant funding. To be considered for the program, speak to your school counselor.
Support for Teens
There are a whole host of resources available through our Get Support page, yet here is a synopsis of TEEN-specific pages that cover a wider variety of topics
Substance Use Related Resources
SAFE Coalition MA
SAFE is a local nonprofit organization all about SUPPORT, showing up regardless what’s coming up for you and your family. Free transportation to their location in Franklin for Medway residents if needed.
My Life My Quit
My Life, My Quit is a free, private method for quitting vaping or smoking.
The Truth
The TRUTH: how vaping makes mental health worse and an evidence-based text service to support your journey to cut back or quit vaping.
Build a Quilt Plan
Customized quit plans & tools make it simpler to stay on track, get through difficult moments, and permanently stop smoking or vaping.
Quitting Zyn
Five tips for quitting nicotine pouches.
RecoverMe
The RecoverMe campaign connects those in recovery with empowering, practical, and affirming resources to support young people’s individual journey with substance use and mental health challenges.
Al-Anon Family Groups
A place exclusively for teenagers impacted by the alcoholism of others.
Administration for Children & Families
Substance Use Risks and Considerations for Teens
NIAAA
Teen page on how alcohol affects your health, how to identify signs of a problem, and where to get help.
Room to Breathe
Straightforward facts about vaping and judgment-free support for those who use.
Looking for more like this? See our interactive substance use resource page that includes treatment options, hotlines, support groups, and more for teens and adults. Click Here!
Mental Health Resources
Samaritans
For young adults, by young adults. If you or someone you know is feeling lonely, depressed, overwhelmed, or having thoughts of suicide, we are here for you.
Your Life Your Voice
A bully at school. That rough breakup. Thinking about suicide. Life can give you challenges. We have some tips and tools to help you deal.
The Trevor Project
Made specifically for LGBTQ+ You deserve a welcoming, loving world. And so do the people you care about. Here you can reach out to a counselor if you’re struggling, find answers and information, and get the tools you need to help someone else.
Log Off Movement
LOG OFF is a youth-led organization committed to helping build healthy relationships with social media and online platforms. We do this with a multipronged approach – resource development and distribution, our online community, and creative campaigning.
Seize The Awkward
This website helps people to share their mental health and struggles in a safe place which has made a huge impact.
Free Your Feels
The Free Your Feels campaign helps young people stay mentally healthy by expressing their feelings with peers, parents, teachers, and most importantly, themselves.
CopeCode Challenge
Relationships
Love Is Respect
Everything about dating, relationships, support and safety.
Join One Love
Tools and resources for teens to see the signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships and bring life-saving prevention education to their communities.
DOVE Youthspeak
YouthSpeak – Peer-Led Healthy Relationship Group on Instagram
DOVE
DOVE is an organization based in Quincy MA that is all about supporting those impacted by any form of abuse. In addition to a hotline and a range of services, here is the link to additional resources they recommend.