October 7-13 is Mental Health Awareness Week 

October 7-13 is Mental Health Awareness Week. Below are some facts and resources concerning mental health.  

Did you know: 

• 20 percent of youth ages 13-18 live with a mental health condition. 

• Approximately 1 in every 12 children and teenagers exhibits self-harm, and more than 95 percent of those cases are due to mental illness. 
• More than 50 percent of teenagers with severe mental illnesses drop out of high school. 
• About 95 percent of children in juvenile detention suffer from a mental disorder and many times suffer from more than one disorder. 
• One in 5 young people suffer from a mental illness. Of those teenagers, only 30 percent will be diagnosed and able to receive proper care. 
• Approximately 1 in 5 youth ages 13-18 (21.4 percent) experiences a severe mental disorder at some point during life. For children ages 8-15, the estimate is 13 percent. 

If you or someone you know suffers from a mental health condition or just needs someone to listen, many great resources are available at your fingertips: 

• Ok2Talk 
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741-741 for 24/7 support via text. 
• TeenMentalHealth.org 
• To Write Love on Her Arms 
• Parents, guardians, grandparents, teachers, school counselors: A trusted adult is a great resource.
• Remember- If you or someone you know is in an immediate crisis or you have harmed yourself in any way, taken any pills or harmful substances or do not feel safe, please call 911 immediately. A life is more precious than you can imagine in that moment.

Want to spread awareness at your school?

Try one or more of these great projects to get your club involved:

• Key the Teacher: Write compliments or positive thoughts on sticky notes; mention that they are from the Key Club. Post them on teachers’ doors.  
• Random Acts of Kindness: Leave positive messages in lockers, write thank-you notes or say hello to a new person.  
• Hope Garden: Plant a garden of yellow tulips at your school or in your community. Check out theyellowtulipproject.org/ to learn more about a Hope garden that spreads positive messages and mental health awareness.  
• Hope Board: Pin the question “What are you hopeful for?” on a bulletin board. Place sticky notes and pens nearby and ask students to post their answers.