Teen Lifeline started after a movie, “Surviving” staring Molly Ringwald, aired on prime time network television in 1985. The movie was quite controversial because it was the first time teen suicide had been portrayed in such a public way. The movie made the cover of People Magazine and was instrumental in beginning public conversations about teen suicide. As a result, mental health agencies began to look at the problem of teen suicide. It was then discovered that Arizona’s teen suicide rate was double the national average. Arizona ranked second in the nation for the rate of teen suicide. something needed to be done, so Teen Lifeline was developed as an innovative solution to address teen suicide in the Phoenix area.
This website for parents, educators, counselors, and law enforcement provides information on the ways adolescents use and misuse technology; resources on case law focusing on free speech issues, and guidelines for preventing and responding to cyberbullying incidents.
afsp.org
This website provides information on understanding, preventing, and coping with suicide loss through research, education, and advocacy.
nami.org
A mental illness is a medical condition that disrupts a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life. Serious mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder. The good news about mental illness is that recovery is possible.
Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion or income. Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character or poor upbringing. Mental illnesses are treatable. Most people diagnosed with a serious mental illness can experience relief from their symptoms by actively participating in an individual treatment plan.
