The SPAN Youth Hub

For many young people, school is more than just a place for learning—it’s where friendships are built, challenges are faced, and big transitions happen. But alongside academics and social life, students often carry the weight of stress, anxiety, or other mental health struggles that can feel overwhelming. The good news is that schools and colleges are increasingly recognizing the importance of mental health, and many are providing resources to support students’ well-being.

Talking about mental health isn’t always easy. For many youth and young adults with disabilities, conversations about anxiety, depression, stress, or other mental health challenges can feel overwhelming. You might worry about being judged, misunderstood, or even dismissed. But opening up about how you’re feeling can be an important step toward building stronger support systems and taking care of yourself.

Balancing classes, assignments, and personal life can be exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming. For many students, the pressure to keep up with deadlines and expectations can make it easy to forget about taking care of themselves. As we settle into the new school year, remember that self-care isn’t just about relaxation—it’s about making intentional choices to stay healthy, focused, and energized.

Everyone feels stressed sometimes. School, work, friends, and family can all add pressure. A little stress can push us to get things done, but too much stress can make life feel really hard. The first step is learning how to notice when stress is starting to build up.

Finding people you can rely on is one of the most important parts of growing up. For youth, especially those navigating school, friendships, and big life decisions, it helps to have a circle of support. A personal support network isn’t just family—it can include friends, mentors, teachers, coaches, or anyone who encourages you and helps you through challenges. Building that circle takes time, but it can make a big difference in how confident and connected you feel.

Narcotics Overdose Prevention & Education (NOPE) is a youth-focused early intervention initiative providing psychoeducation and prevention services to deter early-stage substance use and high-risk behaviors. Our mission is to equip youth with the tools and knowledge to make healthy, informed decisions in a supportive environment that fosters resilience and growth.  NOPE is currently building partnerships with schools, community organizations, and non-profits across Camden County to offer engaging and impactful presentations available both in-person and virtually, tailored to middle school, high school, and college-age youth. Presentations are scheduled weekly and can be customized based on your organization’s/schools needs.   To learn more about the NOPE program or other Camden County initiatives supporting youth substance use prevention, mental health, and school-based services, please contact: Camden County Office of Mental Health & Addiction at (856) 374-6361 Each s...