With Your Help We Can Prevent
Self Harm and Suicide
Suicide and self harm has been a growing problem in teens and young adults for decades. While suicide is tragic and grabs the headlines, the bigger problem is actually self harm. While self harm is a risk factor for suicide, it is not a cause. Here are the facts:
- Suicide is the second leading cause of death in teens and young adults ages 10 to 24.
- Before the start of the pandemic, 60% of teens and young adults had engaged in self harm at least once.
- 83% of those who had engaged in self harm once engage in self harm on a regular and continuing basis. That works out to more than 31 million teens and young adults living in the US.
- After the start of the pandemic, emergency department visits for suicide and self harm increased 31%.
- While there are biological and genetic causes of self harm and suicide, they are rare compared to non biological and non genetic causes. The more frequent causes of self harm and suicide are related to mental health issues arising from maladaptive coping strategies used to deal with childhood trauma.
- Teens and young adults typically suffer for many years before getting help if they get any help at all.
- Suicide and self harm is preventable, and you can help.
For the cost of one lunch per month you can help prevent the suffering and mental health issues suffered by children and young adults that lead to suicide and self harm. That works out to less than 33 cents per day. So, for less than 33 cents per day you can end the suffering and positively impact the lives of more than 31 million teens and young adults living in the US. Our goal is to receive commitments to donate $10.00 per month made by ten-thousand heroes (10by10k). If we reach that goal, we can put an evidence based program in place that will reduce child suffering, prevent suicide and self harm, and reduce school violence and drug and alcohol abuse in general.
Won't you be one of the ten-thousand generous heroes committed to end the suffering?