OUR MISSION

OUR
MISSION

WHY WE’RE DOING THIS

We are a determined youth-driven movement tired of the silence surrounding mental illness — and we’re ready to move mountains to bring change and to remind folks that there is help and hope out there. We are tired of the deafening silence around this topic. We are tired of the stigma that keeps people from reaching out and getting the help they need. We are tired of suffering in silence and we are tired of losing our friends to suicide. We are ready to address the elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about, even though one in five people worldwide suffer from mental illness.

Our mission is to smash the stigma surrounding mental illness and to build a community of people who realize that hope happens when youth and community leaders work together. We hope that someday mental illness will be as normal to talk about as any physical illness, and are fiercely dedicated to making this goal a reality.

THE NUMBERS

As hard as we have been working these past five years there are sad, true facts that we need to change
EVERY 40 SECONDS SOMEONE DIES
by suicide
THE 2ND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH
for people ages 10-34 is suicide
ANXIETY AFFECTS 1 IN 4 YOUTHS
between the ages of 13-18
80% DO NOT GET TREATMENT
that they need
SUICIDE RATES HAVE INCREASED
overall by 35% since 1999

WHAT
WE DO

ENERGIZE

We energize young people to use their powerful voices to make a difference through our ambassador network.

BUILD

Build community by planting hope gardens in the fall and welcoming the flowers in the spring.

CHALLENGE

Challenge perceptions of what mental illness “looks” like.

CHALLENGE

Challenge perceptions of what mental illness “looks” like.

SPEAK

Speak at conferences, schools, and youth events.

SPEAK

Speak at conferences, schools, and youth events.

ENGAGE

We create mental health awareness programs that are engaging, purposeful, and hopeful.

REACH

We display helplines in school bathrooms so students know how to get help.

MOBILIZE

We mobilize schools & communities through our Community Call to Action programming

BELIEVE

We believe that Hope Happens and that together we can smash the stigma.

WHAT WE’RE PROUD OF

406
active Youth Ambassadors,
with more joining everyday
36
U.S. states & counting
5
countries, with plans
to expand
500,000
tulip bulbs have been planted across the
country as reminders of hope
1M+
people have seen YTP’s I Am
More: Facing Stigma exhibit
100%
of the youth who participate in YTP programs feel more empowered to use their voices to combat stigma, feel less alone, and are now galvanized to be part of this radical sea of change



OUR SPONSORS

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