RUMFORD — The River Valley Rising group is hosting a free presentation from 6 to 7 p.m. April 14 at Muskie Auditorium at Mountain Valley High School to teach people how the adolescent brain works, and how to keep adolescents confident and happy.

Program manager Allie Burke said in a news release that the presentation, titled “Blame It On the Brain,” will focus on helping people “understand adolescent development” and how to “support healthy beginnings to ensure future success.”

Burke added that guest speaker Karen Williams, who has a Master of Science degree in social work, will discuss adolescents and will “help provide a deeper understanding about how unaddressed anxiety, stress and trauma can trigger a host of preventable mental and behavioral health issues including addiction, depression, self-harm, violence and bullying.”

River Valley Rising is an offshoot of the River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition that works to promote a drug-free community and inspire River Valley youth to lead healthy lifestyles.

mdaigle@sunmediagroup.net

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