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OMM 2019-20 Program Report

2019-2020 Impact Report short

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Wow 🤩 We have some #fridayfeels over here at Ou

Wow 🤩 We have some #fridayfeels over here at Our Minds Matter HQ checking out how student leaders and club sponsors are re-writing the narrative surrounding mental health 🧠 Let’s keep breaking down the stigma, prioritizing mental health, and saving lives! #ourmindsmatter #studentled #keepgoing

Suicide Prevention Month is coming to a close, but

Suicide Prevention Month is coming to a close, but the movement to end teen suicide continues on. For 10 years, Our Minds Matter has been working toward the day when no teen dies by suicide. And for the next 10 years and beyond, we will keep this fight going by partnering with students and school staff in the DMV and across the country to change school culture around mental health. By increasing social connectedness, self-care and healthy habits, prosocial skills, and help-seeking behavior, we can reduce the likelihood that a teen will turn to suicide. When folks feel supported in community, have access to affirming mental health resources, have the skills to cope with tough emotions and situations, and know they’re not alone, their mental wellness and overall well-being can thrive. Our Minds Matter and our incredible student mental health champions are doing this work year round–long after Suicide Prevention Month ends. And for everyone who is in this fight with us, we see you. We appreciate you. YOU are saving lives. Click the link in our bio to learn more about how OMM began with suicide prevention as central to its mission -- and visit us at ourmindsmatter.org to see how you can stay in the fight with us.

“It might not be a linear journey.” 10 years

“It might not be a linear journey.” 10 years ago, Lauren Anderson started Our Minds Matter. In 2012, our organization was called the Josh Anderson Foundation, named for Lauren’s brother, Josh, who died by suicide when he was 17 years old. At that time, she began a long healing journey that she’s still on today–and channeled some of her grief into action through her work with teens in schools through the organization that is now Our Minds Matter. We’ve come a long way in 10 years, and seen many changes in school culture when it comes to mental health. As Lauren shares here, struggles with mental health don’t often follow a linear journey–but holding onto hope that things will get better can help. Here’s to the next 10 years and beyond of uplifting teen mental health–and of working together toward a day when no teen dies by suicide. #ourstoriesourminds #suicidepreventionmonth #ourmindsmatter

Tara Dixit is a senior at Chantilly High School an

Tara Dixit is a senior at Chantilly High School and one of our amazing Teen Advisory Council Members. For #ourstoriesourminds, she shares her dream of a world where there is equal mental health support for people of all backgrounds, and where there is no stigma. She and our other amazing student leaders and club members are working toward that change in their schools every day—and we couldn’t be prouder. #suicidepreventionmonth #ourmindsmatter

If you haven’t gotten your tickets for #ourbrigh

If you haven’t gotten your tickets for #ourbrightnight yet, you’re in luck! We just added 15 more early bird tickets 🎟— get them before they’re gone. Link in bio to purchase! September 30th is the last day to get this special lower price for our 10-year celebration event! We can’t wait to see you there. ⭐️

Isolation and loneliness are some of the biggest p

Isolation and loneliness are some of the biggest predictors of suicide. That’s why focusing on social connection and building community is *so* important for suicide prevention and a healthy wellbeing. You don’t have to have a giant group of friends or a busy social calendar to feel connected. In fact, connection is more about the quality of people in our corner as opposed to the quantity. Take about 20 seconds and think about the people in your life that you not only have fun with, but could also go to if you needed support. Did you think of a friend or two? A sibling or cousin? A partner? A parent? A grandparent? Another trusted adult in your life? Good! ALL of those people can be in your support system. Connection isn’t a guarantee, and it isn’t a one-way street. Challenge yourself to intentionally connect with some folks you care about this Suicide Prevention Month. Send a text, make plans to hang out, put your phone down during family dinner, invite your sibling to watch a movie with you. You never know who might need that extra connection, including yourself! If you need immediate help, text “MIND” to 741741. #ourstoriesourminds #suicidepreventionmonth #ourmindsmatter

How we take care of our bodies and minds affects h

How we take care of our bodies and minds affects how we feel. Engaging in community care, or taking care of and being taken care of by our communities, is a huge piece of being mentally well. And it’s also important that we engage in self-care too! This term gets tossed around a lot, but what does self-care really mean? For some folks, self-care can look like taking a bubble bath, ordering your favorite food, or turning off your phone and binging a good TV show. For others, it might look like taking your medication, engaging in physical activity or joyful movement, showing up to your therapy appointment, or taking a shower–even when you just want to lay in bed all day. And for a lot of us, it might look like all of this and more, depending on the day. Self-care is not always glamorous or trendy, but it is always necessary. Self-care does not mean that you are solely responsible for your own mental wellness, or that you have to do it alone. Instead, it means that even in the midst of stressful, busy, or tough times we still prioritize taking care of ourselves; including our minds. This Suicide Prevention Month, try showing up for yourself by engaging in the self-care that you both want AND need. #ourstoriesourminds #suicidepreventionmonth #ourmindsmatter

Link in bio for Early Bird tickets for Our Bright

Link in bio for Early Bird tickets for Our Bright Night: Celebrating 10 Years of Our Minds Matter. These discounted tickets are on sale until the end of the month! Get yours before they’re gone 🎟 and join us for an inspiring night celebrating our impact and all we hope to accomplish in the next decade. #ourbrightnight #ourmindsmatter

Chase Pantezzi is one of our awesome Teen Advisory

Chase Pantezzi is one of our awesome Teen Advisory Council Members and has been a part of his school’s OMM club since his freshman year at Quince Orchard High School. As a member of TAC, Chase has shared: “While I have experienced personal battles with anxiety and overthinking, I find joy in turning that into something positive as I destigmatize and educate others about the importance of prioritizing mental health.” Thank you, Chase, for sharing your story. #ourstoriesourminds #suicidepreventionmonth #ourmindsmatter

Julia grew up in Syracuse, NY and obtained their B

Julia grew up in Syracuse, NY and obtained their Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Ithaca College. During their undergrad years, Julia was selected as a Scholar within the BOLD Women’s Leadership Network, an innovative leadership initiative geared toward leveraging identity, personal strengths, and collective knowledge to positively impact social change and foster inclusive communities on and off campus. Following their time at IC, Julia’s passion for youth advocacy and mental health promotion led her to a fellowship at Active Minds. She worked collaboratively to grow and increase representation within their national suicide prevention display. Through this, Julia has developed a love for employing programming and events to empower and promote vulnerability and help-seeking behaviors. Julia lives in Rockville, MD, with her wife and their two kitties – Theo & Flink. She loves bagels, thrift shopping, reading books recommended by BookTok, and going on late-night drives with the windows down.

Being there and caring for our friends and peers c

Being there and caring for our friends and peers can go a long way, and can be especially important for someone who may be struggling with their mental health. What does caring look like? Caring can look different for everyone, and will likely change based on your relationship with each person in your life. A few ways to show that we care about someone include checking in and asking them how they’re *really* doing, listening to them without judgment and without trying to “fix” them, making sure they get the help they need from a safe adult or professional (check out our “asking for help” post for ideas!), and continuing to do the things you normally do together to show you value their presence in your life. Always be sure to check in with yourself to make sure you’re not feeling overwhelmed when showing care for others–your mental health has to come first. Caring for those we love and checking in on them is great, and it IS suicide prevention. *And* caring also includes being kind as often as possible, being mindful and inclusive of folks’ identities, working to make spaces you occupy safe for all, and doing service for your community. How will you show you care this Suicide Prevention Month? P.S.
Want to learn more about being there for others? Complete your Be There Certificate at the link in our bio! #ourstoriesourminds #suicidepreventionmonth #ourmindsmatter

Dr. G Wei Ng is a licensed psychologist and our ✨new✨ Director of Impact. We’re so excited to have her on our team, and to have her expertise as we measure the impact of our student-led mental health clubs. For #ourstoriesourminds, Dr. Ng shares how her immigrant identity has had a profound impact on her own mental health–and how she’s come to accept that being imperfect is part of being human. 💗 #ourstoriesourminds #suicidepreventionmonth #ourmindsmatter

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