The Jed Foundation
 | |
| Founded | 2000 |
|---|---|
| Focus | Suicide prevention, Mental illness |
Area served | United States |
| Method | Education |
Key people | Phil and Donna Satow |
| Mission | "to promote emotional health and prevent suicide among college and university students" |
| Website | www.jedfoundation.org |
The Jed Foundation is a non-profit organization working to promote emotional health and prevent suicide among college and university students.
The Objectives of The Jed Foundation are to:
- Promote awareness and understanding that emotional well-being is achievable, mental illness is treatable and suicide is preventable
- Increase knowledge of the warning signs of suicide & emotional distress
- Foster help-seeking so that those who need supportive services reach out to secure them, or are referred to services by a peer
- Build and strengthen resilience, coping skills and connectedness among young adults, their peers, families and communities
- Facilitate adoption of a comprehensive, community-based approach to promote emotional health and protect at-risk students on campus
- Raise the importance of mental health services, policies and programs in the college selection process of students and parents
History
The Jed Foundation was founded in 2000 by Donna and Phil Satow after they lost their son Jed, a college sophomore, to suicide.[1] The organization works in collaboration with the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, set up in 2002 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.[2]
Campaigns
Jed and Clinton Health Matters Campus Program The Jed and Clinton Health Matters Campus Program (Campus Program) was created to help colleges and universities create healthier and safer campus environments to help prevent the two leading causes of death in young adults,— unintentional injuries, including those caused by prescription drug overdoses or alcohol poisoning, and suicide .[3]
ULifeline is a confidential online resource center where college students can learn more about their emotional health and reach out for help if they are struggling. Over 1,500 colleges and universities are part of the ULifeline network.[4]
Half of Us is a Peabody Award-winning awareness campaign The Jed Foundation launched with mtvU. The program discusses the statistic that half of all college students struggle with depression at one point during their college career. Many celebrities, including Mary J. Blige, Pete Wentz, and Brittany Snow, participated in the effort.[5]
Love is Louder is a widespread outreach program started by The Jed Foundation with actress Brittany Snow and MTV to support anyone feeling mistreated, misunderstood or alone. A number of celebrities including some who had been personally affected by bullying in their youth, spoke out openly in videos broadcast on mtvU and YouTube.[6] In 2011, Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, and Victoria Justice teamed with Seventeen magazine to join the campaign to help teenagers cope with personal struggles.[7][8]
Transition Year is an online resource center that helps students and their families focus on emotional health before, during and after the college transition.[9]
References
- ↑ Painter, Kim (2004-03-02). "Tragedies inspire action". USA Today. Retrieved 2011-07-05.
- ↑ "Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC)". Retrieved 2011-07-05.
- ↑ "The Jed Foundation – Programs". Retrieved 2011-07-05.
- ↑ "The Jed Foundation – Programs". Retrieved 2011-07-05.
- ↑ "Half of Us – About Us". Retrieved 2011-07-05.
- ↑ "Half of Us – Program". Retrieved 2011-07-05.
- ↑ Zellner, Maggie. "Love is Louder with Demi Lovato". Seventeen magazine. Retrieved 2011-07-05.
- ↑ Dinh, James (2011-04-04). "Demi Lovato Tells Teens That 'Love Is Louder' Than Pressure". MTV. Retrieved 2011-07-05.
- ↑ "The Jed Foundation – Programs". Retrieved 2011-07-05.