BRITE youth
banner
briteyouth.bsky.social
BRITE youth
@briteyouth.bsky.social
Ventura County nonprofit engaging youth & young adults to create social change around drugs, alcohol, vaping, mental health, LGBTQ+ advocacy, & more. https://linktr.ee/briteyouth
Staying motivated can be difficult, but sometimes all you need is a small push to become the best version of yourself. Being kind to yourself can strongly influence a positive mindset. Saying, ‘I am strong & determined,’ in the morning can help you feel confident & empowered. ☀️
February 6, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Everything is a process. In this episode of Plática con Café, Erika discusses the importance of talking proactively about substance use from an early age, starting in elementary school, rather than waiting for problems to arise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-RIrbsTPW4
Plática con Café: Hablando de las Sustancias / Talking About Substances
Todo es un proceso. En este episodio Erika aborda el tema de la importancia de hablar sobre el uso de sustancias desde temprana edad, comenzando en la escuel...
www.youtube.com
February 5, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Join us on Saturday, March 14th from 3 - 6pm at OPAC for a FREE, inspiring event celebrating youth voices, creativity & mental health empowerment at BRITE Connections: Wellness Arts Showcase! Come out & help us celebrate the power of artistic expression! RSVP at brite.link/showcase.
February 4, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Turning to alcohol to quiet stress or escape everyday pressures can seem like an easy solution, but it often just pushes things deeper. Healing starts when we allow those emotions to come to the surface instead of burying them. Resources in Ventura County: WellnessEveryDay.venturacounty.gov 💜
February 4, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Your voice matters! Help shape the future of behavioral health in Ventura County. Register & learn more: https://ow.ly/OjCU50Y59yH.

¡Tu voz importa! Ayúdanos a dar forma al futuro de la salud mental en el Condado de Ventura. https://ow.ly/KL8r50Y59yG.
February 3, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Because the teen brain continues to develop until around age 25, heavy use of cannabis in the teen years can stunt brain activity & cause a reduction in IQ. Many teens are exposed to the substance without knowing the long-term repercussions. Learn more at PositivePaths.org/cannabis/brain.
Brain – Cannabis FactCheck
Learn about the impacts of cannabis on the developing adolescent brain.
PositivePaths.org
February 2, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Even small choices can have a big influence on your health and well-being. Focusing on healthy habits that support your physical health like avoiding alcohol and other substances, getting enough sleep, and developing healthy coping skills can help you build a brighter future in 2026 & beyond. ☀️💪🏼
January 30, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Mito: La marihuana no es adictivo.
Verdad: De acuerdo con el NIH, el consumo de marihuana puede derivar en un trastorno por consumo de marihuana, el cual puede manifestarse como adicción en los casos más graves. Para aprender más sobre la marihuana, visita https://ow.ly/GLft50Y4BTX.
January 29, 2026 at 4:01 PM
❣️Calling all artists❣️ BRITE will be showcasing works of art about mental health & we would love to hear from you about how your creative practice supports your mental wellness & helps you make healthy choices! Learn more & sign up at www.briteyouth.org/mentalhealth.
January 28, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Stay in control! When you use cannabis, it can lead to less self-control resulting in rash & impulsive decisions. You may miss an awesome experience or memory because of a choice that was made under the influence. Visit PositivePaths.org/cannabis to learn more about cannabis use.
January 27, 2026 at 4:01 PM
If you feel pressured to drink alcohol & you don’t want to, here are 5 ways to say, “I’m not drinking tonight.” Remember, you don’t need to share more info than you want about your reasons for not wanting a drink. It's okay to listen to your gut and say no!
January 26, 2026 at 4:01 PM
This #fbf we're sharing photos of Frontier HS' Suicide Awareness Walk! Students shared why mental health & suicide prevention are important & what they do to take care of themselves. For mental health resources in VC, visit WellnessEveryDay.venturacounty.gov.

https://youtube.com/shorts/HHcnEhNb7YY
PSA - Everybody Thinks Different
A Frontier High School student tells our BRITE Media Team why mental health awareness and suicide prevention are important, and what he does to take care of ...
youtube.com
January 23, 2026 at 4:02 PM
#Tbt to our workshop on Stress & How to Deal at Rio Mesa! We had a great discussion with students about ways to handle stress & anxiety without turning to substances like cannabis or alcohol & then we created touchstones with encouraging messages for their peers. ❤️
January 22, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Contrario a lo que muchos piensan, la marihuana es adictivo. Aproximadamente una de cada diez personas que lo consume se vuelve adicta. Si comienzan antes de los 18 años, la tasa aumenta a una de cada seis. Para más información sobre la marihuana, visita PositivePaths.venturacounty.gov/es/marihuana.
January 21, 2026 at 6:01 PM
If you’ve been taking part in Dry January or just trying to cut down on alcohol, you might have noticed some of these mental health benefits over the past few weeks. Learn more about how alcohol affects your brain, body, and mental health here: https://bit.ly/46J2mtf.
January 20, 2026 at 10:01 PM
Martin Luther King, Jr always believed that even in times of crisis, "the time is always right to do what is right." BRITE honors Dr. King’s unwavering dedication to justice & equality through nonviolent action & strives to uphold these ideals every day in the work we do. ❤️
January 19, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Starting a new year can be intimidating, but it's also a fresh start for creating healthy habits. Making a consistent routine such as exercising weekly or getting enough sleep contributes to a more balanced & healthy lifestyle, which can support your mental & physical health.
January 16, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Did you know that cannabis use can affect your brain in the long-term? Regular cannabis use as a teen can affect how the brain develops, causing long-term problems with learning and remembering new things. Check out PositivePaths.org/cannabis/overview to learn more. 🧠🙀
January 15, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Los adolescentes pueden sentir presión para beber alcohol, consumir drogas o hacer otras cosas peligrosas. Practicar decir que no, usar el humor, recurrir a un factor externo o cambiar de tema son excelentes maneras de resistir la presión de grupo.
January 14, 2026 at 7:00 PM
We love this post by Gracie, our CLU intern, about ways to resist peer pressure! Teens might face pressure to drink, use drugs, or do other dangerous things. Practicing saying no, using humor, using an outside factor, or redirecting the conversation are great ways to resist peer pressure.
January 14, 2026 at 6:01 PM
How can alcohol affect your future?

Alcohol abuse can seep into every aspect of your life. It can damage your relationships with friends and family, affect your mental health, and lead to reckless behavior. It can even cause legal consequences. Think before you drink!
January 13, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Are you an artist that wants to share your work with your community? BRITE wants to highlight works of art around the subjects of mental health & wellness, and hear how your art supports your mental wellness & helps you make healthy choices! Learn more & sign up here: www.briteyouth.org/mentalhealth
January 12, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Did you know that teens & young adults are the biggest misusers of Rx pain meds? In 2018, over 695,000 youths & 1.9 million young adults misused these drugs. In Ventura County, nearly 200 people die each year from opioid overdoses. Learn more: COAST.venturacounty.gov/community.
January 12, 2026 at 6:01 PM
For today's #fbf post we're pulling a cool video out of our BRITE archives! In 2018 students at Ventura HS participated in our Advocacy Workshop & created artwork with messages that they wanted to share with their peers and community. Check it out here: https://youtu.be/EYpSgLdBYfc. We love it! ❤️
Prevention Art! - Ventura High School
Straight Up conducted an "Advocacy Art" workshop at Ventura High School where students created messages that were important to themselves and the community.
youtu.be
January 9, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Check out this PSA about vaping addiction created by students from Sinaloa Middle School and our amazing Media Team! Thank you for speaking out! ❤️

https://youtu.be/RXqgCFy3zu4
PSA - Vaping Addiction
Created by students from Sinaloa Middle School and the BRITE Media Team, Spring 2023.
youtu.be
January 8, 2026 at 6:00 PM