MOUNTAINS FOR MENTAL HEALTH IS SUPPORTING
THE JED FOUNDATION & SOAR
The History
In 1998 Donna & Phil Satow lost their son, Jed, to suicide. Through their time of grief and questions, they developed the JED Foundation in 2000 to honor their son by fighting against the tragedy of suicide in our nation. It continues to be the 2nd leading cause of death for people ages 10-34 partially due to the shame and stigma that surrounds mental health.
The Mission
The JED foundation is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization that is dedicated to protecting the emotional health and preventing suicide for teens and young adults around the United States. They believe in doing this through arming students with the knowledge and skills to combat life’s hardships and partnering with schools and colleges to improve their programs dedicated to mental health.
JED's Impact
Has reached 63.8 million with campaigns nation wide
More than 2 million teens and their families have used JED’s Set to Go high school program to prepare emotionally for the transition to college and adult life.
400 institutes of higher education with 4.8 million students utilizing the JED Campus program to improve their approach to mental health
1,600 colleges using ULifeline – an online program dedicated to providing resources
The history
Founded by executive director, Chantae Thomas, in 2012, SOAR - Seeing Our Adolescents Rise was created as a result of seeing the many gaps in services for youth transitioning into the community from a variety of therapeutic programs. She saw the high need for support, particularly for youth of color, and sought to create a space where youth of color felt safe to speak, to learn, and to grow around those who looked like them, and where they could pursue the dreams and goals their environments may not be able to provide.
The population and Mission
Around 98% of SOAR’s youth are involved in the juvenile justice system to some extent, all the way from truancy to probation. They currently serve the Denver Metro Area community to encourage youth to invest in their future, helping them become responsible and motivated advocates for their life by promoting their values of Strength, Healing, Equity, Growth, and Care. SOAR accomplishes this goal through a variety of programs including community engagement, educational support, community mentorship, community service, and adventure therapy, which Heather is a clinician for. They believe in empowering youth, providing new experiences, and supporting adolescents in their own ability to succeed.
SUPPORT THE CAUSE.