Teen tips & movie; parenting help; community priorities presentation
- Norwalk Partnership
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
TNP Teens Club @ NHS & P-TECH/BMHS & CGS: Bulletin Board Updates
In This Blog:
For teens: Rylie's recommendations for stress management, student-created videos about free mental health supports, plus a free Movie Night at the mall!
For parents: Free upcoming webinars to help you support your kids around nicotine, screens, & cannabis, plus a free opportunity to Re-Set at Sunset
You're invited! Report out on community priorities for Norwalk youth mental wellbeing
Problem Gambling Awareness Month
Save the date! 5th annual NorWALK for Mental Health event
Rylie Reflects: Stress, School & Self-Care
Rylie is the president of the NHS/PTECH TNP Teens club, which recently held a Stress Management awareness table in the cafeteria during exams. As a second-semester senior, she shares the coping skills she's learned along the way to help other students:
Stress Management Techniques:
As we the second semester starts getting busy again, I wanted to share some common stress management techniques in hopes they make you think about what helps you feel more at ease. For me, managing stress looks like listening to music or watching Gilmore Girls (my comfort show), working out or going for walks, and making sure I get enough sleep at night. For you, it could be any of these or something I didn’t even mention. The point is that these techniques should work for you, no matter how mainstream or niche they may be!
Emotional:
- Deep breathing (4-7-8 breathing, box breathing)
- Mindfulness or meditation
- Journaling — write out worries or emotions
- Positive self-talk — replacing negative thoughts
- Time management — breaking tasks into smaller steps
Physical:
- Exercise — walking, dancing, sports, stretching
- Adequate sleep
- Healthy eating & hydration
- Progressive muscle relaxation — tensing and releasing muscles
Relaxation & Fun:
- Listening to music
- Drawing, art, or crafts
- Reading or watching something comforting
- Spending time outside.
Social:
- Talking to someone you trust
- Asking for help when overwhelmed
- Spending time with friends or family
Norwalk students should also be aware of the free school-based mental health resources they have access to! TNP's Get Help page has videos & downloadable resource guides for youth and families. Watch our TNP Teens-created videos here:
Upcoming Events
Behind the Buzz: Helping Kids Navigate Nicotine, Stress & Mental Health
WEBINAR TONIGHT at 6:00 PM! Parents Against Vaping is hosting an important virtual conversation with Dr. Jonathan Avery, national expert in addiction psychiatry. Learn how nicotine impacts developing brains, increases anxiety, and affects adolescent mental health and what parents can do to support their children.
TOMORROW at 3pm! Our monthly coalition meeting will feature a special presentation by Bobbly Lawler and Anna Gasinski of CT's High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) team.
Join us on Zoom - link here.
TOMORROW at 7pm! Dr. Amy Swift of Silver Hill Hospital will discuss today's cannabis and how it affects teen mental health. This talk was previously scheduled as a hybrid in-person and livestreamed event, but due to the weather will now be on Zoom. If you had already signed up, the new link has been emailed out to you.... but otherwise:
Register here to get the link.
Secret of The Apps: Safeguarding Children In A Screen-Driven World
Our regional partners at Catalyst CT | The Hub are hosting a Zoom presentation this Friday, February 27th from 1:00–3:00 PM to explore the nuances of cellular phone technology, highlight the risks of popular apps, and provide parents with tools to make informed decisions about their child’s cell phone use.
Register here. Download & share flyer below.
Free Teen Movie Night Friday!
Calling all teens! DVCC is hosting a free evening this Friday, February 27 from 5:00–7:30 PM at The SoNo Collection (Level 2, near Bloomingdale’s)! Along with the film, you can enjoy free food, prizes, and the chance to connect with local organizations that support teens in our community.Don’t miss out! Bring a friend and we’ll see you there!
Teens, register today!
Norwalk Parents Re-Set at Sunset
The Community Mindfulness Project and Norwalk ACTS present the final session of their monthly one-hour mindfulness meditation program for parents in the Norwalk community. This session offers time to unwind, reset, and connect through secular mindfulness practices, and no prior experience is needed. Join us at the SoNo Library, 10 Washington St., Norwalk, on March 2, 2026, from 6:30–7:30 PM.
Report from our Community-Wide Priority Planning Process
We've concluded an amazing, engaging process bringing multiple sectors together to build consensus around community priorities and recommendations for youth mental wellbeing in Norwalk. Join us on Wednesday, March 4th at 4:00 PM at City Hall as we share and discuss the report and key findings shaped by community voices.
Cannabis Facts for Parents and Teens
The Governor's Prevention Partnership is holding a webinar for families to learn together about how cannabis impacts youth.
Register here to get the Zoom link for Thursday, March 5, 2026 from 6:00–7:00 PM.
March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month!
With March Madness comes all kinds of advertising for online betting, fantasy sports, and more. An estimated 1% of gamblers become addicted, and another 2%-3% have mild to moderate gambling problems. To raise awareness, TNP is holding Gambling Awareness tables at basketball games at BMHS and NHS, and we're collaborating with NPS health teachers on a PSA contest. Be on the lookout for the winning student-made PSAs to show up on social media!
On March 18 from 12:00-1:30pm, you can learn more about the connection between gambling and mental illness from a Teams webinar offered by Catalyst CT | The Hub. Register here to receive the meeting link.
Please download & share the flyer below.
We're excited to announce our 5th annual
NorWALK for Mental Health: Walk + Wellness Fair!
Save the date! Bring your friends & connect with your community at our FIFTH annual NorWALK for Mental Health event! Join us on May 2 at the Norwalk Green from 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM for a free, family-friendly event featuring a DJ, art, yoga, bouncy houses, a huge wellness fair featuring 50+ community organizations providing activities and resources, an awareness walk, and community speakers -- and food trucks. Rain date: May 9, same time and place.
Download & share the flyers here:
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