Promoting best practices that aim to eliminate suicide, substance misuse, & problem gambling/gaming.
02/23/2026
We are at the 4th and final Building Block of HOPE - Emotional Growth
So much of success in life depends on the ability to self-regulate; to navigate interpersonal conflict and cope with big emotions in healthy ways. How do kids learn this?
Kids learn how to get along with others through time spent with caring adults and free play with peers. It’s during these everyday moments that they discover how their emotions and behaviors affect others—and that their choices matter.
Raising resilient children means surrounding them with adults who model healthy coping skills and giving them plenty of opportunities to play, practice self-control, and learn the unwritten rules of life together.
Join Diego for a couple of his emotional growth moments!
02/19/2026
Your weekly reminder from Diego!
02/19/2026
Our communities are stronger when we invest in our young people. Your donation to Amplify directly supports local youth coalitions in the Bolton Prevention Council, East Hartford Health and Human Services, and East Windsor, CT Local Prevention Council helping fund youth leadership and substance use prevention education.
Click below to donate and make a local impact today. 👇🏼
Join us Monday, March 16 for a community-based evening su***de prevention training. Similar to QPR, Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM) gives participants the tools to recognize warning signs, ask directly about su***de, connect the person to support, with the added bonus of focusing on increasing safety of firearm and medication storage.
Scan the QR code (or save the photo to your phone and hold down the QR code with your finger) to register for this life-saving training.
As always, our trainings are free of charge. Reach out to Nicole at nbengtson@amplifyct.org for more information.
02/17/2026
Teacher Emily Bourassa from Stafford Elementary School in Bristol was inspired to bring the Gizmo Read-Along to her first grade classroom after the loss of her father, David, to su***de in 2024. ❤️
Gizmo's Pawsome Guide to Mental Health was created by Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and United Way to help children learn how to care for their mental health. The book guides students in creating a simple plan for what to do when they feel sad, mad, or worried, and encourages them to identify a trusted adult and practice how to share their feelings.
Last Friday, Amplify, along with Ruby from Mochi on the Move, had the honor of reading with 60 first graders, thanks to Emily’s courage and leadership.
When we share our stories, we never know who we may be helping. Through grief, connection, and conversation, healing begins — for ourselves and for our community.
Interested in bringing Gizmo to your school or organization? Reach out to us. 💛
02/16/2026
This week Diego takes us through the 3rd Building Block of HOPE: Engagement, which is about opportunities to participate, belong, and feel capable.
Engaged Youth = Thriving Communities!
Youth who give back grow stronger.
Civic engagement is linked to better mental health, less anxiety, and higher happiness in teens, with volunteers nearly twice as likely to thrive!
Real-world skills start early.
When young people get involved in their communities, they build leadership, communication, and critical-thinking skills that boost academic success.
Youth voices matter.
Civic engagement empowers kids to see they can shape change — building confidence, purpose, and a sense of agency.
Connection creates belonging.
Community involvement strengthens friendships and intergenerational relationships — helping youth feel supported and included.
Engaged youth become engaged adults.
Early civic involvement builds lifelong habits of participation, from volunteering to voting and community leadership.
Scroll to see how Diego's needs for Engagement are met! 👇🏼
02/10/2026
Amplify hosted the North Central Regional Su***de Advisory Board today featuring Honor Wellness Center.
We’re grateful for partners from The American Legion, Department of Connecticut, Connecticut Behavioral Health Partnership (CTBHP), AU, West Hartford Veterans Affairs, Town of Enfield Together Coalition, CT State Manchester Community College, Town of Wethersfield CT, Andover Hebron Marlborough Youth Services, The Bridge, Bristol-Burlington Health District, North Central Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, FAVOR, Inc., and the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Together, this group builds local capacity and strengthens connections to help prevent and eliminate su***de, with a strong focus on veterans, first responders, and their families. Thank you to everyone who continues to show up for this life-saving work.
If you or someone you know needs support, call or text 988. Help is available 24/7.
***dePrevention
02/09/2026
Feeling safe & supported in every day spaces is a major PCE and falls under the Environment Building Block which is the Safe, stable, supportive spaces for children to live, learn and play.
Scroll below to have Diego tell you about the environments where can relax in a world that can feel uncertain.
HOPE grows where safety and stability exist!
02/08/2026
As we get ready for the Super Bowl, it is important to remember that youth should never be gambling because sports betting is for adults only. For adults who choose to place bets, make sure you are doing it responsibly, within your limits, and for entertainment only.
If you or someone you know is looking for support or resources related to responsible gambling, visit AmplifyCT.org for helpful information.
Enjoy the game and stay safe! 🏈
02/06/2026
☕💙 This morning, Amplify joined the Glastonbury Police Department for Coffee with a Cop at Starbucks! Events like this are all about prevention, creating space for open conversations, building positive relationships between the community and law enforcement, and sharing resources around prescription drug misuse and overdose prevention. Small conversations can make a big difference.
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We strengthen the ability of the North Central Region to assess needs, develop plans, and advocate for strategies and resources to advance healthy communities.
We are the Regional Behavioral Health Action Organization for the 37 towns that make up the North Central region of Connecticut.
We support Local Prevention Councils (LPCs) in prevention efforts, regional Consumer Advisory Councils (CACs), and Way To Go CT. The CACs promote leadership skills for adults in recovery and focus on topics that benefit adults with psychiatric and/or addictive disorders.
Way To Go CT is a mobility management program for disabled and elderly people.
History:
Amplify was formerly known as the East of the River Action for Substance Abuse Elimination (ERASE) and the North Central Regional Mental Health Board (NCRMHB). ERASE was the regional action council that focused on substance abuse prevention services and coordinated efforts to improve services and leverage funds to meet the prevention and wellness needs of youth and their families.
The North Central Regional Mental Health Board (NCRMHB) was one of five regional mental health boards established by the Connecticut General Assembly in 1974 to study local needs, evaluate state funded mental health programs and make recommendations to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), local providers, and government officials for improved and/or expanded services.
Amplify, Inc. continues to involve local people living with mental health or substance use disorders, family members, and others who know and care about them in its review, evaluation, planning and advocacy activities.
