Guest speaker Stephen Hill addresses mental health and substance use

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Nationally renowned speaker and author Stephen Hill visited Niskayuna High School May 19 for a special program engaging students around mental health awareness and substance use prevention. The program was sponsored by N-CAP.

Hill is the founder of Speak Sobriety, a young person in recovery, a bestselling author, recovery coach and an attorney advocating for people suffering from mental health and substance use disorders. He shared his personal experience with substance use disorder and recovery in assemblies with high school students and held small group breakout sessions where students had the opportunity to ask questions.

Hill’s message focused on guiding students in how to prevent and intervene in substance misuse, while also encouraging them to be more compassionate and driven toward making smart choices and positive changes.

As part of the event, regional organizations including New Choices, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Schenectady Stop DWI, and Niskayuna Police Department tabled during lunch to provide students with resources about mental health and substance use prevention.