Arizona Watcher
Pima County launched the Let's Talk About It conference to connect young people ages 10 to 24 with local mental-health supports and information about substance use.
The free event aimed to create a nonjudgmental space to remove barriers to care and make it easier for teens and families to learn about services available in their communities.
Participants included teenagers, community volunteers and people with lived experience who shared personal stories; attendee Aryanna Diaz spoke about long-term struggles and cultural stigma that hindered open conversation.
Speakers such as Zion Givens emphasized vulnerability as a strength and presented practical coping strategies as alternatives to self-medication and isolation.
Officials cited public-health data to underscore urgency: nationally 10–24-year-olds account for nearly 15% of suicides, and locally about 7.9% of Tucson teens reported drug use.
Pima County has seen hundreds of overdose fatalities in recent reporting; officials warned about fentanyl, cheap illicit drugs and high overdose counts that make prevention and early intervention priorities.
Organizers linked attendees with concrete resources, encouraged reaching out to trusted adults or counselors, and provided contacts for immediate or ongoing support.
The county's first dedicated teen conference was held July 25 at Groundworks with workshops, live acoustic performances, activities, prizes and free food; officials also highlighted initiatives like Pima CARES and federal OD2A funding.
Pima County held a new conference, 'Let's Talk About It,' designed to connect youth ages 10 to 24 with local mental-health supports and information about substance use. Organizers and speakers emphasized the need for open conversation as a response to suicide and drug-use…