KyleCares Foundation News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . December 2021 |
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Happy Holiday Wishes and Year-End Reflection |
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As we approach the end of 2021, we are reminded of the help throughout the year of so many loyal KyleCares supporters. From over 450 guests at our KylePalooza fundraiser in November, to the tremendous response we’ve seen in sponsorships from a multitude of generous families, businesses, and organizations across the country.
Our partners – Active Minds, Healthy Minds Network, Minding Your Mind, Samaritans, and The Jed Foundation continue to be the backbone of everything we do, delivering valuable solutions to satisfy the unique needs of each school we work with.
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Our foundation is energized more than ever in our objective to take the lead in having candid conversations around mental health for young people. We will continue to do all we can to reduce self-harm and suicide by assisting one school, one family, or one student at a time.
Directors – thank you for all your support,
and happy holidays.
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Mental Health Consultant Jon Mattleman
educates crowd during Keynote Address.
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L to R - KyleCares Director Lauren Johnson and Co-Founder Sue Johnson present $5,000 Grant to Dean College, represented by MaryAnn Silvestri, Director of Counseling Services. |
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KylePalooza 2021 was a rousing success on November 27th as 450 attendees gathered at Lake Pearl in Wrentham, MA.
Guests were educated on mental health and suicide by Keynote Speaker and Clinical Director of Minding Your Mind New England, Jon Mattleman,
KyleCares recognized six worthy schools and partners with $30,000 in grants, and the generosity of so many through sponsorships, raffles and a silent auction helped raise thousands of dollars in valuable funding towards the KyleCares mission!
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Emily Whittaker-Smith and Annabel Devault - two students at separate universities
on opposite sides of Massachusetts, simultaneously (and coincidentally) approached KyleCares to plan meaningful and impactful presentations for their sororities
focused on mental health and suicide prevention. KyleCares is thrilled
to recognize them both with our Quarterly Student Spotlight!
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Emily Whittaker-Smith
UMASS
Kappa Kappg Gamma
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Annabel Devault
Northeastern
Phi Sigma Rho
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Send Silence Packing Exhibit Raises Suicide Awareness |
In October, Bridgewater State University worked with Active Minds to bring Send Silence Packing to campus, a powerful suicide awareness traveling exhibit that visits colleges and high schools from coast to coast throughout a school year. Over 900 backpacks were displayed, each containing a personal story of a student lost to suicide in the US. Led by the efforts of Donna Schiavo, Clinical Director of Counseling Services and student Kristin Callahan, President of the school’s Active Minds Chapter, the event also helped encourage BSU students to take advantage of the valuable mental health resources and counseling services on campus.
Check out the link below to view a creative and powerful video captured by the school of the event.
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LOCAL FAMILY CREATES MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION IN HONOR OF DAUGHTER |
Roseanne and David Chee created Cassie's Cause in tribute to their daughter, who died by suicide almost one year ago. They hope to eradicate the stigmas associated with mental illness by spreading awareness.
Cassie’s Cause is an initiative created by her family to help bring awareness to the mental health crisis in our world, as well as break the stigma associated with any and all aspects of this ongoing issue. Cassie’s beautiful artwork will be utilized to spread the message of awareness and hope.
Learn more about Cassie's story and their efforts by clicking here.
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SCITUATE HIGH SCHOOL PARTNERS WITH KYLECARES AND MINDING YOUR MIND
Led by Adjustment Counselor Jennifer Lopes, Scituate High School has been taking proactive measures this fall to address mental health and wellness in the building. Two presentations were delivered to roughly 35 caregivers and the school’s 400 9th and 10th grade students by Minding Your Mind’s Young Adult Speaker Elizabeth, as she shared her story and struggles with anxiety, perfectionism, disordered eating, and alcohol abuse; her path through treatment, and how she maintains her wellness now. The goal of the presentation was to educate students about the signs and symptoms of a mental health challenge, foster a climate that encourages students to seek support for themselves or a friend, and end the stigma around mental health struggles.
“This is helpful because I’m currently going through some of these mental health issues.
It helps me be more aware that I’m not the only one that is going through this.”
- Scituate High School Student
Scituate’s counseling department followed up with at least 24 students, directly related to Elizabeth's presentation, many of whom may have previously been "flying under the radar". This outreach in some cases it was an initial meeting, and, in all cases, the relationship of support has continued between that student and a counselor in school.
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Among teens with mental health needs, 70 percent do not receive the care they need. That is why addressing teen mental health at |
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home and in schools is critically important. We can’t always wait for teens to come to us for help; instead, we need to reach out and give them the information and resources they need to support each other. We need to help them learn about their own mental health and motivate them to participate in treatment. Here are 8 of many reasons why teens say they do not seek help:
- Embarrassed and afraid their parents won’t believe them
- Worried their friends with “judge” them
- Concerned they’ll be accused of “exaggerating their pain and looking for attention”
- Questioned by others - “what do you have to be depressed about”?
- They don’t want to be a burden to others
- They don’t know what resources are even available to help them
- Feeling of inadequacy or a failure
- It is unacceptable in some cultures to show signs of weakness.
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A special thank you to our sponsors: |
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PAUL & KAREN
STAUBI FAMILY
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BILL & MELISSA
WAGNER FAMILY
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ESTATE OF GEORGE
O. JOHNSON JR.
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