The PreVenture Program is making a big difference for student mental health

 And it’s free for schools in BC with Foundry’s support!

By Jessica Leaver, MPH (she/her), Program Co-ordinator at Foundry BC, Vancouver, and

Drew Williams (he, him), teacher and School Implementation Support at Foundry BC, Campbell River

 

Foundry is a province-wide network of integrated health and wellness services for young people ages 12–24 and their caregivers. Youth can access free and confidential services including counselling and peer support, substance use services, groups, physical and sexual healthcare, and employment services, simply by walking into their local Foundry centre, exploring online tools and resources at foundrybc.ca or connecting virtually with Foundry Virtual BC through the free Foundry BC app.

Recognizing the importance of prevention and early intervention initiatives alongside supporting youth mental health and substance use services, Foundry is expanding their implementation support for the PreVenture Program, an evidence-based initiative developed by Dr. Patricia Conrod, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Montréal, in schools across BC.

The PreVenture Program is a prevention program that uses brief, personality-focused workshops to promote mental health and delay and reduce substance use among youth. The program aims to equip youth in Grades 7–9 with decision-making and cognitive behavioural skills to help them cope with common challenges such as stress, peer pressure, interpersonal conflict, and identity development. The PreVenture Program has proven effective in delaying the initiation of substance use and reducing its use by up to 80%, as well as reducing anxiety, depression symptoms, and suicidal ideation among youth.

Earlier this year, the American Journal of Psychiatry published new findings on the PreVenture Program. This five-year study found that students who took part in the PreVenture program in Grade 7 were up to 80% less likely to transition to substance use disorders by Grade 11, compared to those who did not take part (see also the CTV and CBC articles). The PreVenture Program is based on 20 years of research, and its evidence base only continues to grow.

“At this moment in time, the opportunity to implement and scale evidence-based substance use prevention programs to decrease the harms caused by precocious problematic substance use is critical to decreasing the enormous impact of alcohol and substance use on the lives of young people. PreVenture has shown that prevention programs are feasible and necessary if we want young people to live their best lives,” says Dr. Steve Mathias, Co-Executive Director, Foundry BC.

Foundry provides schools with comprehensive support, including training for school staff, access to ongoing coaching and implementation resources, and covers all program participation costs to ensure success and sustainability at no direct cost to school districts.

Sherry Hanna, Prevention Program Manager at Foundry BC notes, “The feedback from BC school districts implementing the PreVenture Program has been very positive. We have districts now that are in their third year of offering the program to their students.”

“The decision-making and problem-solving skills that the PreVenture Program equips our students with means we are offering them tools they can use for the rest of their lives,” says Drew Williams, a retired teacher and district Healthy Schools co-ordinator, and previous champion and facilitator of the PreVenture Program in Campbell River. Since retirement, Drew has continued to work with Foundry supporting schools that are implementing the PreVenture Program.

Schools are an ideal setting to deliver the PreVenture Program, as they provide the opportunity to reach more youth and maximize impact. Research behind the PreVenture Program has demonstrated a herd effect when delivered in schools, where reductions in substance use were also observed among students who did not participate in the program directly, but attended schools where it was being offered.

“We’re excited to be part of something that is making such a positive difference for our youth,” says Hanna. “More than ever before, students need the tools that the PreVenture Program provides to make healthy decisions.”

To learn more about how your district or school can get involved:

• Visit our website and register for one of our upcoming information sessions.

• Reach out to us directly at prevention@foundrybc.ca.