National Observance in its 11th Year
– May 6, 2022 – The Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), in partnership with state and local organizations, and communities, will celebrate National Prevention Week from May 8-14, 2022. Now in its 11th year, the effort is designed to build and expand outreach, education, and public awareness of—and action around—substance misuse and mental health. The themes of this year’s campaign are “Strengthen Community, Build Resilience, Create Hope.”
Several prevention-themed events will happen during that week as well as throughout the month of May, including a National Prevention Week cornerstone event on May 14, which will include opportunities to meet Connecticut’s Prevention mascot, Starfish Stella. Several vendors, including a coloring station and therapy dog, and the Change the Script resource van, also will be on hand. The event will be held at the Sacred Heart University Discovery Science Center and Planetarium, 4450 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, from 10 AM – 3 PM.
Nationally, Prevention Week will feature key themes:
• Monday, May 9: Preventing Prescription Drug and Opioid Misuse
• Tuesday, May 10: Preventing Underage Drinking and Alcohol Misuse
• Wednesday, May 11: Preventing Illicit Drug Use and Youth Marijuana Use
• Thursday, May 12: Preventing Youth Tobacco Use (E-Cigarettes and Vaping)
• Friday, May 13: Preventing Suicide
A full list of events happening in Connecticut throughout the month of May can be found at ctclearinghouse.org/events.
The planning of Connecticut’s observance of National Prevention Week is led by Wheeler staff and includes three subcommittees. The Event, Mascot, and Media Subcommittees, comprising individuals and organizations from across the state, also are actively engaged in several other local initiatives for May with some continuing throughout the year.
The Event Subcommittee is responsible for coordinating the cornerstone National Prevention Week event on May 14.
The Mascot Subcommittee and Media Subcommittee launched a K-12 student art contest featuring Stella the Starfish, the Connecticut Prevention Week mascot, and various aspects of prevention. Selected submissions will be featured in a prevention-themed coloring book, available online at CTClearinghouse.org/npw. The starfish mascot was created last year to communicate the many aspects of prevention and the importance of outreach.