Student Peer Helpers from Chelsea High School and Helena High School recently attended a Peer Leader Prevention Youth Conference at Shocco Springs in Talladega.

Students were able to hear keynote speakers Caleb Castille, who plays the role of Tony Nathan in the movie Woodlawn which the students watched on the opening night of the conference.  Students also heard from Jamie Tworkowski, founder of the non-profit movement To Write Love on Her Arms, which is dedicated to presenting hope and help for people struggling with depression, self-injury, addiction and suicide. Other speakers included Secretary of State John Merrill, youth speaker and author Patrick George, and Dr. Thomas Gleaton, founder of Pride International Survey Associates.

Other speakers included Secretary of State John Merrill, youth speaker and author Patrick George, and Dr. Thomas Gleaton, founder of Pride International Survey Associates. Hydrate Campus Tours, which seeks to inspire students to live with purpose and integrity so they can be positive influences on the world also performed dramas and skits.

Students also participated in breakout sessions that included topics such as peer leadership, body image, vaping, brain research, suicide prevention, sex trafficking, Internet safety, drug prevention, and underage drinking.

Jennifer Bailey, who coordinates the Peer Helpers at Chelsea High School, said the students who attended the conference were nominated by their respective Peer Helper groups to represent their schools at the conference.  They will make presentations to their peers on topics they learned about at the conference.