Blog | BriteYouth

THE BRITE BLOG

We share the voices, opinions and stories of many Ventura County youth and young adults here. Not all posts reflect the opinion of BRITE or our sponsors. Managed by Ashley Heatherly.

Wellness Every Day: A Resource for Everyday Mental Health in Ventura County

At BRITE, we believe mental health is just as important as physical health and that it’s something we all deserve access to, every single day. Wellness Every Day is a free, county-wide resource designed to support people at every stage of life. Whether you’re feeling stressed, lonely, anxious, depressed, or just wanting to strengthen your mental health, the site offers practical tools, education, and local resources.

Ashley H

Mar 173 min read

Two young people are standing side by side laughing with their eyes closed. They each have one arm around the other. There are empty conversation bubbles above them as if they are having a conversation.

Maintaining Relationships Through Communication

Building relationships is hard, and maintaining them is even harder. Whether romantic, platonic, or interpersonal, all relationships require one shared element to thrive: consistent communication.

Chelsea E.

Mar 22 min read

An illustration of two black and white hands that are handcuffed and are breaking free of their chains. The text reads, "Juvenile freedom."

Juvenile Incarceration: The Effects on Family and Community

A college student discusses the negative effects of juvenile incarceration on families and communities, and how we can prevent juvenile incarceration and better support our youth.

Gracie

Feb 93 min read

An illustration of a person sitting at a desk, working on a laptop. There are various sizes and colors of gears around the graphic and the text reads, "Lessons from my internship."

Empowering Teens, One Upload at a Time: Lessons From My Internship

A college student discusses her experience interning with BRITE and the things that she learned while working on projects that she is passionate about.

Gracie

Feb 24 min read

A group of teens are sitting around a dining room table, laughing, smiling, playing a drinking game, and drinking from red Solo cups. There are also shot glasses and bottles of liquor on the table. One teen is taking a shot. The table is surrounded by adults who are observing this fake party scene at our Reality Party for Parents event.

Behind the Reality Party: A Reality Check on Teen Substance Use

A college student discusses her experience attending a Reality Party for Parents event, the importance of communication, and the need to change the normalization of party culture.

Gracie

Nov 17, 20252 min read

We see the perspective of standing in a dark tunnel, with railroad tracks extending to the horizon. At the end of the tunnel is a visible arch with two people standing in it, walking on what appears to be white snow. There is a light emanating from the entrance of the tunnel giving a sense of hope and forward momentum.

Benadryl

A poem written by a college student about her experience witnessing an ex-boyfriend overdose, and how there is always a light at the end of the tunnel even when things feel hopeless.

Anonymous

Oct 24, 20252 min read

Water’s Face

Writing and painting by Sierra Watson. I wonder how calm water feels; All gathered as I looked upon its face. I’m sure it wonders if...

Sierra Watson

Sep 8, 20252 min read

A young person is laying on a bed and their face is covered with post-its that say things like, "You got this," "Grind," "Hustle," "Team no sleep," etc. The backdrop of the bed is also covered in post-it notes but they are out of focus. We get a feeling of overwhelm.

Overwhelmed

A poem written by a high school student about feeling overwhelmed with tasks and the weight of planning for the future while not being able to stop and enjoy the present moment.

Jason Gray

Jun 19, 20251 min read

We see a close up photo of the page of a book. The word "Leadership" is being highlighted in bright pink ink.

Leadership vs. Power

A high school student discusses the difference between good leadership and just exercising power over others.

Jason Gray

Jun 19, 20251 min read

We see a line of dark chocolate chocolate chip cookies across the top of the image with a green cannabis leaf against a pink background. The text reads, "Everyone’s tolerance for weed is diﬀerent. Every form of consuming weed will aﬀect you diﬀerently. It’s a trial and error process, and no one talks about the errors."

“It’s No Big Deal:” My Personal Experience with Cannabis

A college student discusses her experience with cannabis, how it affected her mental health, and why using cannabis might actually be a big deal for some people.

Anonymous

May 30, 20255 min read

A person is sitting cross-legged on their bed with their hands resting on their knees, palms up. There is a candle burning next to them and a calm, relaxing vibe.

Coping Skills for Mental Health

A college student discusses the coping skills she uses to take care of her mental health and encourages others to try different things to find what works best for them.

Janette

May 23, 20252 min read

A group of young kids is sitting together, each holding and looking at a smartphone. The quote below the photo reads, "Parents, educators, and community leaders should engage young people in discussions about the realities of substance use, helping them to identify and question the messages they consume."

Popular Culture and Substance Use

A college student discusses the ways in which pop culture such as TV, movies, and social media portray substance use and the negative influence it can have on youth and young people.

Janette

Apr 30, 20252 min read

La Marihuana: No Es Gran Cosa?

A college student discusses whether cannabis is a "big deal" or not for youth and young adults and encourages parents and caregivers to talk about cannabis with their kids.

Janette

Feb 18, 20252 min read

A young girl is sitting on a cement step with her head covered by her arms, her backpack on the ground next to her. In the background there are 3 other students pointing and laughing at her.

Bullying & Resilience

A college student discusses their experience with bullying while growing up and how it's made them a more resilient person and better friend.

Anonymous

Feb 13, 20252 min read

A Black family is joyfully and lovingly hugging one another including older adults, teens, and young children.

Ways Parents and Youth Can Improve Communication With One Another

A Ventura County college student discusses ways that parents and caregivers and youth can better communicate with each other to strengthen relationships and increase their resilience.

Anonymous

Dec 16, 20242 min read

A close-up image of several young people holding up glasses of hard alcohol as if they are cheering. We can see their faces smiling and blurry in the background.

The Problems of Parents/Caregivers Providing Alcohol to Young Adolescents

A college student discusses the dangers of parents & caregivers normalizing alcohol use and allowing their kids to drink at home, especially while under 21.

Janette

Sep 30, 20243 min read