Tricia Brannon is the executive director of YouthWell New Hampshire. She lives in Goffstown.

When a young person dies by suicide or from a substance use-related tragedy, the heartbreak isn’t limited to one family. It ripples out through the community in classrooms, neighborhoods and the entire town. In those moments, it’s impossible not to ask ourselves: Could we have done more?

On May 12, nearly 250 passionate professionals and community partners from every corner of New Hampshire gathered in Concord for a statewide New Hampshire Prevention Conference. The conference embraced the theme of going upstream to address the root causes and early risk factors that contribute to youth substance use and mental health challenges, rather than waiting for crises to unfold downstream.

It was a day defined not just by data and strategy, but by personal stories. School counselors, public health leaders, prevention specialists, members of the National Guard, law enforcement, juvenile court diversion advocates, healthcare providers and educators came together for one reason: to protect the health and futures of New Hampshire’s youth.

They were united by the shared belief that prevention matters and works. They were seeking ways to “do more.”

We know the risk factors that too often lead to tragic outcomes: family history of substance use, lack of academic success, social isolation or rejection of a young person’s identity. But we also know how to build individual and community protective factors such as mentorship, connection with a trusted and caring adult, coping skills, strong school and community connectedness and delaying or preventing substance use initiation altogether.

Here’s a fact: Prevention is not a vague ideal. It’s a smart, proven-effective investment with positive returns.

One area we see positive progress is with youth vaping rates, which have dropped dramatically from a peak of 34% of high school students in 2019 to 17% in 2023. That’s prevention in action, which represents more young people choosing healthier paths leading to fewer adults struggling with addiction and mental health issues later in life.

And yet, the work is far from done. The tobacco industry continues to market ever-evolving products like vapes and nicotine pouches, in bright colors and endless appealing flavors, that are highly accessible to our kids.

At the same time, rates of youth anxiety and depression have surged in recent years. In New Hampshire, nearly one in three high school students reported feeling persistently sad or hopeless in 2023, an alarming reminder that mental health must remain front and center in our prevention strategies.

And so, the need for multi-pronged, impactful prevention work continues.

But despite this clear and present need, proposed state budget cuts threaten to undermine the very programs that help young people stay healthy, safe and connected. Funding for mental health services, tobacco and substance use prevention, child welfare and youth support programs are all on the chopping block in New Hampshire — at precisely the moment we should be increasing our investment.

The Prevention Conference demonstrates that New Hampshire has the expertise, passion and commitment to support youth. But without adequate resources, these efforts can’t reach every town, every school and every young person who needs them.

Prevention work saves lives. It builds stronger, healthier and more compassionate communities with residents who contribute to the workforce and economic fabric of New Hampshire. It reduces long-term healthcare and criminal justice costs. And it gives young people in New Hampshire a chance to thrive.

If we want to turn tragedy into healing and growth and prevent future loss, we must treat prevention as a smart investment. Not as an afterthought but as an essential strategic investment in New Hampshire’s future.