PARENT RESOURCE-STOP TEEN SUICIDE
The first time I ever recall thinking about hurting myself was at the age of 12. I don’t remember why, but I remember feeling like the world was caving in on me. This feeling has visited me time and time again… even into my adult years. The feeling left me when I found the love of the Creator and hasn’t returned since.
Last summer, one of my best friends from childhood, committed suicide. I was left feeling like I failed him as a friend. Why didn’t I know things were this bad? Why didn’t I recognize the symptoms? These were the thoughts running through my head.
What I have learned is this; suicide is often the result of someone suffering from some level of mental illness. Mental illness comes in all shapes and sizes. Mental illness is not always diagnosed or easy to recognize. And the truth is, young people are not likely to express to you, the parent, teacher, coach, mentor, etc. that they are depressed. So here are some things to look for that may help you identify if a young person is depressed. Being able to identify this behavior can prevent future harm of a young person.
Symptoms of teen depression:
(Present for more than two weeks and affects daily functioning)
- Persistent sad, irritable mood
- Sense of hopelessness
- Withdrawal from friends, family, activities
- Lack of energy and enthusiasm
- Changes in appetite and sleeping patterns
- Risky behaviors
- Suicidal thoughts
If you see these signs or symptoms, it is important to talk with your child or student about what you are observing. It may be uncomfortable, but it is necessary. Then be sure to get them help! There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about my friend. He may have been feeling depressed since childhood, just like me! However, he never addressed those feelings and now he is no longer here. Let’s help prevent a young person from ever getting to the point of taking their own life!
The Yunion 20 Years Strong – Serving Youth And Families
Attention all community members! 🗣️ Save the date for an incredible milestone! The Yunion is excited to announce that we are celebrating 20 years of serving youth and families. ✨🎉 Join us as we reflect on the past two decades of enriching lives and building…
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Ceo @mrjasonowilson had the pleasure of taking a group of 12 boys from @cave313 to St. Louis! Thank you @1stphorm for making this trip happen! Our teenage group was excited to see their awe-inspiring facility, and learn new career pathways!
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The Yunion is once again partnering with Boys Hope Girls Hope (BHGH) for the next 6 weeks in our signature Social Justice for Life program, an exiciting opportunity for Scholars to merge life and employability skills with social justice education. Scholars who qualify and complete…
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📢 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀, it’s #parentingtiptuesday let’s talk about effective communication with our teens! 🗣️ As parents, we understand how important it is to communicate effectively in general but lets focus effective communication with our children especially during our teens’ most challenging years. Here are three barriers…
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Parents👋, are you struggling with conflicts with your teen? Don’t worry, it’s normal! Here are 5️⃣ tips on how to work through it together: 👉 Listen to your teen’s views and try to sort out conflict calmly. Remember: everyone gets stressed! 👉 Never discuss an…
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We are thrilled to announce that our nonprofit has received support from the Ethel and James Flinn Foundation to increase mental health resources in our community! 🙌 This incredible foundation has provided us with the resources needed to offer trainings, mental health referrals, and counseling…
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Let’s give it up for our youth participants who had a blast during our Talent Tour event with Detroit Hives at the MSU-Detroit Partnership for Learning and Innovation (DPFLI) center! 🎉 We’re so proud of the 18 engaged youth from our Career Readiness program who…
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Happy Women’s History Month! 🎉 Today, we want to give a shoutout to Dionna Jackson, a woman who has been making a difference in the community since 2012. Dionna started with the Yunion as a Life Guide and now serves as The Yunion’s Executive Assistant.…
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Mental Health Awareness – Youth Mental Health: Myths, Misunderstandings, Missed Opportunities
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Thank you @maxstossel for the phenomenal work you do around Social Media awareness. We had a great day of encouragement and learning about social media! Students, staff, and parents all had the opportunity to participate. Max shared comprehensive research about social media and its effects…
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Friday Yunion Parent Check-In
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Healthy Parenting – Boundaries
Parents 👋, Did you hear 👂 Mr. Ron is out here using the “B” word🤬 Yes, he is out here encouraging parents to establish…. BOUNDARIES! We know setting boundaries may seem like a daunting task, but trust us, it’s worth it! By establishing clear limits…
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