Mental Health Awareness
This past weekend we recognized World Mental Health Day, which aims to raise awareness of the global mental health crisis around the world. As millions of young people recently returned to schools of higher learning, we must remember that heading back to school and changes to our routines can be stressful for any child and requires time to adjust to new norms and routines. The emotional wellbeing of young people is just as important as their physical health, and yet an alarming percentage of young people who experience a mental health issue are not receiving the services they need. An estimated near half of adolescents in the U.S. are reported to have an emotional disorder. Strong mental health allows the opportunity to develop resilience and adequate coping mechanisms to deal with whatever life may throw your way. Feeling hopeful, accepted, loved, valued, and safe are important factors in improved mental wellbeing. Traumatic events can often trigger a mental health crisis in a young person who may have been quietly suffering from anxiety or depression and more vulnerable. These conditions develop for a myriad of complicated reasons and situations.
Prompted by the statistic that about 1 in 10 college students contemplates suicide, Nine out of Ten empowers college students to be a hopeful voice for suicide prevention. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for college students. Through conversation and education, we must work together to remove the stigma and support the most vulnerable around us.
The Jordan Porco Foundation is committed to preventing suicide in the high school, college, and college-entry student population. Through awareness, education, and innovative programming, JPF is challenging stigma around mental health and help-seeking, creating open conversations about the prevalence of suicide and mental health issues in the young adult population, and saving lives.
If you are thinking about self-harm or suicide or are worried about a friend or loved one and need emotional support, please call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1(800) 273-TALK (8255) for 24/7 free, confidential support. Help is always available.
As Eric repositions BlueBack Health for this new future, he is building a glistening team of dynamic thinkers, innovators, and influencers–each of whom are productively devoting their lives to make life better for all of us. Eric and his team are all in, and he invites you to join them.