Mental Health United States Project #31739

Help schools address mental health and suicide

by Unsilence

Project Report | Feb 24, 2021
Increase in youth depression and suicide ideation

By Dr. Danny M. Cohen | Founder & Interim Executive Director

Hi Unsilence Supporter,

New research on youth mental health and suicide:

According to a recent study (link below) published by The Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, in certain months throughout 2020, young people have faced a significantly "higher rate of suicide ideation [...] and higher rates of suicide attempts [...]" compared to the same months in 2019.

Why did Unsilence create 'TOMORROW'?

Schools struggle to talk about suicide and mental health. Some schools even have policies that prohibit teachers from talking about suicide with students. But there are healthy ways for schools to tackle this topic. TOMORROW is an interactive story that helps teachers, school administrators, parents, and young people learn how to support community conversations about sucide and mental health in appropriate and effective ways. TOMORROW is accompanied by the teacher testimony INTO MY ARMS on which the interactive story is based, as well as BRIAN, which is a parent's beautiful and honest reflection about her son and his suicide, loss and blame, and healing through education. In her words: "Together, we can lower the rates of suicide among children and young adults. The place to start is to unsilence the mental suffering that so many of our young people experience."

Please continue to support our work:

Without you, we would not be able to create and deliver innovative programs - driven by storytelling, the arts, and serious games - that unsilence injustice. If you'd like to continue supporting our TOMORROW initiative, you can donate right here.

With sincere gratitude.

SOURCE: Hill, R. M. et al. (2020). Suicide Ideation and Attempts in a Pediatric Emergency Department Before and During COVID-19. Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. VIEW FULL TEXT: https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/early/2020/12/15/peds.2020-029280.full.pdf

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