HOPE MEANS NEVADA’S 2023 COMMUNITY IMPACT REPORT CHARTS DRAMATIC DECREASE IN TEEN SUICIDE

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HOPE MEANS NEVADA’S 2023 COMMUNITY IMPACT REPORT CHARTS DRAMATIC DECREASE IN TEEN SUICIDE
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LAS VEGAS (December 2023) – Hope Means Nevada (HMN), the community-based non-profit focused on eliminating youth suicide in the state, charts a dramatic decrease in teen suicide in its 2023 community impact report. With Nevada ranking as the worst state in the nation for prevalence of mental illness and low access to care, according to Mental Health America, organizations such as HMN are credited with the success of lowering teen suicide rates.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and HMN’s report, a 2021 youth risk behavior study revealed that more than one in five students seriously consider suicide. It is also noted that youth ages 10 to 24 years account for 15% of all suicides.

Since its inception in 2020, HMN has created a community of hope and provides relevant resources to Nevada teens to enable their mental health journey toward healing. In 2022, the CDC charted national suicide rates dropping 18% among 10- to 14-year-olds and 9% among 15- to 24-year olds.

HMN’s 2023 events included:

• Statewide back-to-school mental health forums elevated conversations surrounding students’ mental wellness and challenges such as declining self-esteem, pandemic-related disconnects between youth and adults and a lack of belonging and motivation.
• A yearlong social media campaign saw HMN partnering with 10 influencers this year to spotlight mental wellness and share mental health resources online. The results included more than 1.68 million impressions and 134,000 engagements. During Stress Awareness Month in April, HMN also hosted its third month-long social media campaign, which included more than 265,000 impressions.
• On Make a Difference Day in October, Subaru Las Vegas sponsored Hope In Action, a day of volunteerism to create a sense of belonging by bringing youth together to do something good for others. More than 200 volunteer hours were donated benefiting several local charities.

“Despite Nevada’s high rates of mental health challenges, Hope Means Nevada has had a transformative impact on youth in the state,” said Ciera Bellavance, executive director, Hope Means Nevada. “In 2024, we aim to continue to lower teen suicide rates by fostering mental wellness, igniting hope and uniting communities.”

Richard Egan of the Nevada Coalition of Suicide Prevention added, “If Hope Means Nevada was not launched just before the pandemic, the outcomes that we are seeing would be a lot worse.”

For more information about Hope Means Nevada, or to support their mission to eliminate teen suicide in Nevada, visit hopemeansnevada.org.

ABOUT HOPE MEANS NEVADA
Hope Means Nevada’s (HMN) mission is to eliminate teen suicide and empower Nevada’s youth to live hopeful lives. As one of the most trusted and visible mental health resources in the state, HMN inspires a culture of empathy and advocacy around mental health. While raising awareness around Nevada’s high rates of mental health challenges, the organization strives to amplify hope and connect youth with desperately needed resources. Through collaborative, compassionate, inclusive and impactful efforts, the community-based initiative envisions a suicide-free Nevada. For more information about Hope Means Nevada, go to www.hopemeansnevada.org and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The new National Suicide Prevention Hotline number is now three-digit dialing code 988. Those experiencing a mental health emergency can also text “Home” to 741741 to reach the National Crisis Text Line.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Vanessa Thill/ Erika Pope
The Vox Agency
vanessa@thevoxagency.com, erika@thevoxagency.com
(469) 226-4723, (702) 249-2977 

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