“S.T.A.Y. and Talk” Webinar: Creating Space for Honest Conversations About Youth Mental Health and Substance Misuse
Hosted by: Agency for Substance Abuse Prevention (Oxford, Alabama)
The Agency for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) hosted “S.T.A.Y. and Talk: Survive Today, Appreciate Yourself” (in 2025), a statewide webinar designed to engage youth in conversations about the complex relationship between teenage suicide and substance use.
Delivered in partnership with classrooms across Alabama, the event created a structured space for students to explore difficult topics and hear directly from people with professional expertise and lived experience.
The webinar featured Alabama Department of Mental Health’s Suicide Prevention Coordinator alongside two keynote speakers who shared personal, firsthand perspectives related to suicide and substance use.
Bringing Prevention Directly Into Classrooms
“S.T.A.Y. and Talk” was designed to meet youth where they are (both physically and emotionally). By working directly with schools to schedule the webinar during class time, ASAP ensured that students could participate in a structured setting alongside their peers. More than 20 classrooms across the state took part. Students had the opportunity to hear from speakers and ask questions (so the session was responsive to their concerns).
Why These Conversations Matter in This Community
A central challenge in the community is stigma surrounding mental health and substance use, which can prevent honest conversations and discourage help-seeking. Including keynote speakers (a parent and a college student) with personal experience helped address this.
These speakers made the topic more relatable, helping students see that struggles with mental health and substance use are not isolated experiences. This approach supported a more open, empathetic dialogue and reinforced the message that it’s okay to talk and seek support.
What Students Took Away
Indicators suggest that ASAP met its primary goal of actively engaging youth in meaningful discussion. Students (across participating classrooms) listened to speakers, asked questions, and took part in the conversation. Follow-up discussions with school counselors indicated that students responded positively to the experience and were grateful for the supportive environment.
The event demonstrated how education, storytelling, and open dialogue can work together to strengthen youth engagement and encourage more honest conversations around mental health and substance use.
Monitoring the Data
ASAP’s work is informed by close collaboration with local coroners to monitor overdose trends in real time. Preliminary data show a decline in overdose deaths in Calhoun County, Alabama, from 55 cases in 2023 to 29 in 2025 (with some cases still pending). Despite this decrease, substance use remains a significant concern, with fentanyl identified as the most common cause of overdose in the area.
This data underscores a critical reality: Even as certain indicators improve, the underlying risks—and the connection between mental health challenges and substance use—continue to require attention.
Sustaining the S.T.A.Y. Campaign
ASAP plans to build on this work, using the S.T.A.Y. (Survive Today, Appreciate Yourself) campaign as an ongoing platform to address rising concerns related to youth suicide while reinforcing connections to substance use prevention. ASAP will continue partnering with local schools to ensure that students have access to information, support, and opportunities for dialogue.