Preventure

University of Montreal.

The program is administered by a trained facilitator and co-facilitator within classrooms. Facilitators can be educators or mental health practitioners (e.g., teachers, school support officers, counsellors, psychologists). Training is required to run the program (see training and costs below).

• A short screening questionnaire to identify which personality types students relate to.
• 2 × 90-minute small group sessions (e.g., 4-12 students).
• Manualised materials for students and facilitators.

Preventure is an evidence-based prevention program that uses brief, personality-focused workshops to delay substance use and promote mental health among secondary school students. The program aims to equip young people with self-efficacy and cognitive behavioural skills to help them cope with the numerous developmental challenges that adolescents face, such as academic stress, peer pressure, and identity development.

The Preventure program has a solid evidence base, having been tested in multiple randomised controlled trials internationally. These trials demonstrate that Preventure delays and/or reduces substance use and mental health problems. In Australia, reductions in drinking and alcohol-related harms have been observed 7 years after the program, and reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms, conduct problems, tobacco smoking, bullying, and suicidal ideation, have been sustained for 3 years post-intervention. Personality factors play a key role in the choices people make and how they respond to stress.

The Preventure program is unique in that it focuses on the specific personality traits that have the potential to influence adolescent risk-taking behaviours and mental health. When understood and properly channelled, these personality traits can be beneficial in helping young people achieve their goals in a positive way. Preventure was designed by researchers at The University of Montreal, and adapted for Australian youth by researchers at the University of Sydney. 

You can find more information about Preventure at preventureprogram.com or you can watch our webinar.

The next Preventure facilitator training workshops will be delivered online in 2024.

See below for more detail about the cost of the training and if you have any questions or other Preventure enquiries please contact aus@preventureprogram.com.

In order to implement the Preventure program, it is necessary to be a trained facilitator. Preventure training in Australia is proudly supported by the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use at the University of Sydney and Positive Choices.

Preventure facilitator training details:

• Format: 2 day training workshop (in-person or online; $750 per person) (plus optional additional supervision if of interest)
• Suitable for: teachers, student support officers, counsellors, youth workers, social workers, or mental health professionals, employed by an educational institution or government service/organisation
• Outcomes: Upon completion of training, trainees will be certified as facilitators by the Preventure coordinating team (CHU Sainte Justine, Montreal, Canada), and will be able to deliver the program*

*Please note that if you would like to continue being a licensed facilitator, you will be asked to pay the $120 license fee in line with the facilitator agreement (provided to all trainees prior to signing up for the training). This license fee entitles trainees to several resources, including the PreVenture Zone, PreVenture lecture series and continuing education activities.

All attendees have a 1 year period in which they can lapse in their license fee payments, and then by paying the license fee they can have their license reinstated. If a lapse occurs for more than 1 year, attendees will be asked to re-train before being eligible to deliver the PreVenture program again.

*However, given that the PreVenture Zone and other resources were not available to Australian Trainees before 2022 and given the disruptions caused by COVID-19, this requirement is waived – so those who have previously attended a PreVenture training in Australia are only required to pay the $120 license fee before November 1st 2023 and their license will be reinstated allowing them to deliver the PreVenture program without the requirement to re-train.

There are additional program costs, including the purchase of student manuals and digital screeners, all are outlined in the facilitator agreement which is provided to all potential trainees before they sign up for the training. As above, if you have any questions please email aus@preventureprogram.com

Facilitator training workshops are currently being offered in Australia. The next workshops will be held in Term 1 2024. At the top of this page you can register your interest to be informed about upcoming facilitator workshops.

Several Preventure Facilitator Workshops will be held throughout 2024, the first two of these workshops will be online and are scheduled for:

• 1st March and 8th March 2024 (register to attend here)
• 17th May and 24th May 2024 (register to attend here)

• Reduced alcohol consumption
• Reduced uptake and frequency of alcohol use and binge drinking
• Reduced alcohol-related harms
• Reduced tobacco use
• Reduced uptake and frequency of cannabis use
• Reduced uptake and frequency of illegal drug use
• Reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety, hyperactivity and conduct problems.
• Reduced suicidal ideation
• Reduced bullying victimisation
• Reduced truancy

Preventure is supported by over 12 published studies, the most relevant studies are listed below. For a full list see Publications.
See below also for an endorsement from an external organisation and an evidence base caution for a Preventure trial among teenagers in the Netherlands.