| Ok Friend, real talk.
A few weeks ago, you may remember that we launched a spring appeal to raise $40,000 in 40 days; an appeal that has always been wildly successful because of donors like you. We were off to a great start, but then – a series of events took place that pushed marketing tasks to the bottom of the to-do list.
It started on a “normal” day at MYC, I had just arrived from a day full of meetings to start unloading the dishwasher and prepare for our nightly dinner. The bulk of our students in attendance were in the skatepark playing dodgeball – one of their favorite activities of the week.
With my hands full of silverware to put away, I noticed a trusted MYC teammate heading my way alongside a young person who had recently started coming to MYC. I was clear that this young person was in distress.
I began to ask a set of four brief suicide screening questions** that takes about 20 seconds to administer, knowing that a “yes” response to one or more of these questions means that this person is at risk for suicide. After “Yes” responses to all the questions, I calmly put the silverware down and invited the young person to come to my office where we would have more privacy.
This began a 3-hour process that included calling 988 right away who determined that they would dispatch a Sweetser clinician to MYC for an in-person assessment. The young person was deemed to be at risk, so Sweetser initiated family contact and additional supports.
Yet, our work did not stop there. When a young person registers at MYC, it is common for us to get signed releases that allow us to speak freely to school and medical partners who often make up a child’s care support team. We made phone calls and spoke with this person’s team to make sure everyone was aware of the situation and could have proper supports in place for this young person’s return.
Our system, the entire reason MYC was founded in 2016, had worked as intended. No slipping through the cracks. No feeling alone.
This young person had started coming in to see what was happening where all those teenagers were hanging out. Then, they stayed for dinner one night and started coming in each night. Then, one day after dodgeball, they shared how they were feeling with a trusted adult, trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid, who recognized that a higher level of support was needed.
This young person was ultimately connected to the care they needed, and an entire network of supports was activated. Today, that young person is feeling better, and has many check-ins with their support team on a regular basis.
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This is just one story. In the past 30 days, MYC staff have performed this Ask Suicide Screening four times. Three of which required hospitalization, whether brief or long-term.
As a small, but mighty staff there are always competing needs to be addressed, however the mental wellbeing of our young people will always come first. So, our marketing and fundraising had to pause.
Now, we need your help to get us back on track for supporting this mission. Could you make a contribution today that will support this work?
A contribution that will keep the doors open, the lights on, and food in the oven for the next young person who needs access to a caring adult, trained to connect them to help at the exact time they need it?
A one-time donation of $1,000, a monthly recurring donation of $10 or $25, a sign up for our meal train, or forwarding this email and introducing us to someone new, are all equally valued and needed here at MYC. Thank you.
With deep gratitude,
Jamie |
