Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Ohio’s Post

A year ago, I stood as a proud parent at Parents’ Weekend at Berkeley, celebrating my son Shaun’s achievements. Today, I am a grieving mother, mourning the loss of my beautiful child. The ache I feel is indescribable. I was once filled with pride, but now, all I wish is to turn back time—to hold my son again and tell him that life isn’t about attending the best university or chasing perfection. What truly matters is navigating life’s experiences, embracing adversity, and knowing you are enough, just as you are. There are so many things I would have done differently when Shaun was just 5. If I could, I would tell every young parent that you have a chance right now to make a difference in your child’s life. Don’t wait until they’re teenagers, when it might feel too late. The signs, the struggles—they begin early. Suicide prevention and resources often come too late. I want to share my experience. I lived in what I thought was an ideal, upscale community in Carmel Valley. It was supposed to offer a bright future for Shaun, but in reality, it was isolating and full of pressures I couldn’t see until it was too late. Not everyone will have the same story, but my hope is that sharing mine might help others. Love your children enough to be tough when it’s needed. Show them that life is not about perfection but about resilience, connection, and being present. Take care of your children—starting at age 5. If you need to talk, I’m here. Together, we can help our kids navigate this world. Walking tommorow for Shaun and awareness https://lnkd.in/gUwjPcX2 #suicidepreventionstartsasachild #suicideprevention #cal #berkeley #afsp

Great to join Lisa Jakimciw for the NPC (New Philanthropy Capital) launch of their new report on the youth mental health crisis and how the surge in demand is affecting charities. A packed out room shows just how much this issue is firing people up. Lots of synergy here with the work of The Children's Society and their early intervention mental health hubs - giving children and young people walk-in access to mental health support and other holistic care - before they reach the point of crisis. Always a fan of a good visual image, I loved Ndidi Okezie describing teachers - now expected to perform multiple essential functions - as Swiss Army penknives. The pressure on schools to cope with this epidemic is insupportable and the decimation of youth services have deprived too many vulnerable children of the trusted adult they need outside of school and family. Some interesting takeaways on the need to understand more about how other countries, who have experienced similar perma crises, are coping with this issue. Why are British children among the unhappiest in Europe? Looking forward to more conversations on our major appeal #npcthinks #mentalhealth #childmentalhealth #philanthropy

We all know that mental health is a serious issue in Australia. The percentage of people aged 16-24 years who experienced a mental health disorder in the previous 12 months has increased from 26% in 2007 to 39% in the period between 2020 and 2022. Governments at all levels, not for profit organisations, business and the community all have a role to play in responding to this epidemic that impacts on all communities across our country. One way of doing that is to give children and young people the resources and support they need to deal with feelings of anxiety, depression, bullying, self-harm and other mental health issues. The bkinderfoundation.org is one organisation doing just that. Through early intervention and prevention programs the b kinder foundation is helping children in their pivotal years by encouraging them to become kinder, more empathetic and more compassionate. Check out the foundations website and donate for a kinder world. #kindness #wellbeing #mentalhealth #donateforakinderworld

Throwback to last week’s Partners’ meeting in Porto! During the meeting, we discussed strategies for internet addiction awareness and education. Project timelines and resource management were discussed, alongside strategies for managing seminars and promoting the app, with a focus on social media activity. The meeting concluded with discussions on project sustainability and disseminating resources to nonprofit organizations. #iadliber #ErasmusPlus #internetaddiction #iad #mindfulnesspractice #traininganddevelopment #lifelonglearning #AdultEducation

RUOK day doesn't stop on the day. A cupcake and platitudes aren't shifting the suicide stats, especially for many #autistic people. That's why I'm posting on Friday; keep the conversation going. So, here are 5 insights from The Royal College of Psychiatrists, the University of Queensland, and the National Autism Society. 👉 Autistic adults without any learning disability are 9 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population (RCoP). 👉 Suicide is the second leading cause of death for autistic people. 👉 Autistic children are 28 times more likely to think about or try suicide. 👉 66% of autistic adults have considered, planned or attempted suicide. 👉 Leading reasons included lack of employment opportunities, social isolation/exclusion and hopelessness. These stats are horrific, and it's a crisis within the community. https://lnkd.in/g3nQMaii ♻ If this resonates, please like, comment and share. #ActuallyAutistic #Autism #SuicidePrevention #Suicide #MentalHealth #Psychology #RUOK

In July we would like to highlight a cause that is dear to our hearts here at LPA Counseling. StRides Against Suicide and Overdose, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing essential mental health and substance abuse care to individuals in Northwest Indiana who are underinsured, uninsured, or unable to afford therapy. Mission: At StRides Against Suicide and Overdose, they believe that everyone deserves access to quality mental health and substance abuse support, regardless of their financial situation. The main goal is to bridge the gap in care and ensure that no one is left without the help they need. What they Do: Provide Access: Offer free or low-cost therapy services to those who cannot afford traditional mental health and substance abuse care. Raise Awareness: Host a StRides against suicide and overdose bike ride and 5k. Fundraisers. Why It Matters: Mental Health for All: Many individuals in our community struggle with mental health and substance abuse issues but cannot access the care they need due to financial barriers. https://lnkd.in/gXdGQMhy

Happy 4th to everyone celebrating! As a mom, and someone working in the anti trafficking field, I’ve often had to figure out how to explain the significance of things like “freedom for all” (without traumatizing or overloading my kiddos lol) For now I tell them what a privilege it is for them to truly be free—to live safely and have more than enough food to eat. To be able to dream. But the truth is that freedom isn’t something enjoyed by every person, or even every American. Because once you get to the core of the word, which is defined by the Oxford dictionary as “the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants”, you come to realize that anyone living with the symptoms of severe trauma is still imprisoned in ways that transcend the traumatic event for decades. You can’t be free while you’re still living in fear of being found by a pimp; while you still believe the lies you’ve been told about being worthless; or when you can’t help reliving the worst memories while your mind and body is trapped in those moments, over and over again. True freedom requires healing. This Fourth of July, consider celebrating by sponsoring a survivor’s mental freedom by giving on our website Humansave.org/donate or by reaching out to partnerships@humansave.org for sponsorship opportunities. Your gift will go towards providing life-saving therapy to help survivors to be truly free of the exploiters and abusers who hurt them. Wishing everyone a safe and restful holiday 🫶❤️ . . . #4thofjuly #independenceday #freedomforall #mentalhealthmatters #endhumantrafficking

🧡🧡 ONE FOOT FORWARD 🧡🧡 It’s October! I’m joining The Black Dog Institute again for #onefootforward Your fundraising efforts for One Foot Forward will support The Black Dog Institute's crucial mental health research and support services to help Australians impacted by mental illness and suicide. ❤️ 🧡$120 can help ensure early mental health intervention for essential workers through changes in government policy. 🧡 $385 can help us train 2 new presenters to reach 1,062 school students to talk about mental health and how to get support. 🧡 $680 can help fund critical research to teach 1,079 children with anxiety or depressive symptoms healthier ways of thinking. 🧡 $1,000 can support a researcher to develop innovative programs to help 1,268 people with suicidal thoughts per day to seek help when they need it most. So who’s with me 🙋🏽♀️ together we can raise these crucial funds. https://lnkd.in/gNAph2Zk

In the 2022-2023 school year, a record-breaking 119,300 students were homeless in New York City (New York Times, 2023). This statistic is staggering. For more than 100,000 children in New York City, food, shelter, and security were not given circumstances of life. Although there is no easy fix to a crisis as significant as this, there are a number of organizations at the forefront of providing exceptional, holistic care - where youth experiencing homelessness have a place to go to not only have their basic needs met, but also have an opportunity to live fulfilled lives. That's why I've started a fundraiser for Covenant House - an organization dedicated to providing safe shelter and loving care for youth facing homelessness. Covenant House provides resources such as job training, education opportunities, legal aid, health care, and mental health counseling to support young people in achieving their goals. Please consider donating to this wonderful cause - any bit helps. Please find the link to contribute here: https://lnkd.in/eGdShNqj If this is a cause you care about, my company, Thesis, will be sponsoring and participating in the Annual Covenant House Sleep-Out. If you're interested in joining or finding out more about Covenant House or the Sleep-Out, you can learn more here: https://lnkd.in/eSsxCBZM

The latest U.S. Funding Landscape report, part of the Mental Health at the Center series, offers a first-of-its-kind look at philanthropic giving for mental health, addiction, and well-being across the United States. Between 2015 and 2022, mental health philanthropy nearly doubled—growing from $1.2 billion to $2.3 billion—yet it still accounts for just 1.7% of overall giving. This report highlights a critical opportunity for funders to boost investment and support systemic solutions to meet the growing mental health challenges facing communities nationwide. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3N6uEWn #MentalHealth #Philanthropy #WellBeing #CommunityImpact #FundingLandscape