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Be Part of this Important Conversation on May 13th

Parents, educators, coaches, youth group leaders, health providers, pastors, policymakers, and youth especially are invited to participate in a free, community-wide summit on youth mental health and social media to be held on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, from 6:00–8:00 PM at the Higgins Welcome Center at the University of Rhode Island, 45 Upper College Road, Kingston, RI.

“This is a solutions-focused evening for our community,” said Susan Orban, Director of the Washington County Coalition for Children.  The Coalition’s 3rd annual Youth Mental Health Summit brings together experts, policymakers, youth voices, educators, and parents for an evening of candid dialogue and actionable insights.  “This is not just a lecture,” said Orban, “it’s a community conversation.”

Two years ago, members of our Youth Advisory Council identified ‘Controlling Social Media’ as a critical part of their Action Plan for Youth Mental Well-Being noted Orban.  Their concerns were validated by a 2025 Pew Research Center Survey of U.S. teens U.S. teens revealing a growing need for change. 

48% 

of teens say social media has a mostly negative effect on people their age – up from 32% in 2022

45% 

say they spend too much time on social media, up from 36% in 2022

1 in 5

teens say their social media use has hurt their mental health, with girls disproportionately affected.

Featured Keynote

Jacqueline Nesi, PhD                                                                                                                                        Clinical Psychologist & Assistant Professor, Brown University

One of the world’s leading researchers on technology and youth mental health, Dr. Nesi writes wide-read Substack Techno Sapiens and has been featured in the New York Times, Scientific American, The Atlantic, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, CNN and CNBC.

Her keynote will be followed by a youth-led interview, giving young people a central voice in the conversation — including discussion of the real-world risks and benefits of social media, and evidence-based strategies for protecting youth well-being.

The Summit Program includes a Policy Panel that will discuss corporate responsibility, pending legislation, and what meaningful protection for youth could look like.  The evening will end with small-group Roundtable Conversations on strategies to help youth thrive in a digital world.

 

Space is limited — please register today and share information with anyone in your community who cares about the well-being of young people.

To Register

Co-sponsored by the Chris Collins Foundation and University of Rhode Island College of Health Sciences, Dept. of Human Development & Family Science, this event is made possible by a grant from The Rhode Island Foundation.

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