Why our work is important tile
  • WHY OUR WORK IS EXCEPTIONALLY IMPORTANT

    STATISTICS 

    • Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among persons aged 15 to 24 years, the 3rd among persons aged 10 to 14.
    • About 1,400 Ohioans die from suicide in a typical year, and 1 in 7 is a child.
    • Among young adults ages 15 to 24 years old, there are approximately 100 to 200 attempts for every completed suicide.
    • 50% of all lifetime mental illnesses start by age 14.
    • 26% of children in the United States will witness or experience a traumatic event before they turn 4.
    • One in five children is faced with a mental disorder before the age of 12.
    • In a recent annual survey, 253,000 people ages 12 to 20 in Ohio (17.5% of all people in this age group) reported binge alcohol use within the month prior to being surveyed.
    • In an annual survey, approximately 89,000 of Ohio adolescents (9.5% of all adolescents) reported using illicit drugs within the month prior to being surveyed.
    • On average, 1 Ohioan dies from an unintentional drug overdose every 4 hours.

    HOPEFUL STATISTICS

    • Most children (70% to 80%) receiving mental health services do so within the school.
    • School-based interventions in combination with family-based interventions provide more benefit than a single program.
    • Teens whose parents talk to them about drugs are half as likely to use drugs.
    • Students from homes characterized by mutual involvement, shared interests, and emotional support are 3.5 to 5.5 times less likely to report suicidal thoughts or intentions.