To Write Love On Her Arms announces its 13th annual suicide prevention campaign, Please Stay Alive. The nonprofit is dedicated to providing hope and help to people struggling with depression, addiction, self-harm and suicide. Since its founding in 2006 in Cocoa, FL, it has donated over $3.7 million directly to treatment and recovery so people can access mental health care when they need it most.
The need for mental health care is enormous, and yet resources are still scarce today. Statistics show that there is a death every 11 minutes, meaning that over 50,000 people take their own lives in a year. Native Americans also have the highest suicide rate in the United States. Since the economic downturn, which has increased the suicide rate, resources have become even scarcer.
“Suicide prevention must go beyond clinical situations and involve every aspect of our daily lives. We believe that most people would help someone they know is suicidal – but many don’t know how to help,” says Lindsay Kolsch, co-executive director of TWLOHA.
“This campaign seeks to change that by providing practical steps and vital information that will enable us to reach people in need, connect them with care, and ensure people feel heard and supported. We are not seeing a reduction in suicide rates, so we continue to fight to get more people involved in this work. It is our collective effort that can turn awareness into action and hope. A hope that people will stay alive.
Musicians and celebrities such as Miley Cyrus, Joaquin Phoenix, James Earl Jones, A Day to Remember and many more have supported the mission and the nonprofit organization is now active worldwide.
People can contribute this year by picking up a suicide prevention kit, donating directly to the campaign, encouraging their community to raise money for mental health scholarships, streaming on Twitch, joining the challenge on Facebook to complete 300,000 steps in September, and following @twloha and joining the conversations and community events online throughout the campaign. #PleaseStayAlive
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