The National Alliance on Mental Illness wants all of us to recognize the significant impact of these mental health experiences in 2022 and throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, on young people’s mental health—and the importance of providing the education, care and support they need.
Among U.S. adolescents (aged 12-17):
- 1 in 6 experienced a major depressive episode (MDE)
- 3 million had serious thoughts of suicide
- 31% increase in mental health-related emergency department visits
Among U.S. young adults (aged 18-25):
- 1 in 3 experienced a mental illness
- 1 in 10 experienced a serious mental illness
- 3.8 million had serious thoughts of suicide
Jason Hopcus is a motivator and catalyst for cultural change within organizations. He believes that connection to one’s self, one’s transparency and one’s passion to connect, allows individuals to live a wholly authentic, full life. He creates systems of people working to deepen their relationships to their work, their play, and ultimately our world. He presently serves as non-profit President & CEO of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) of Arapahoe & Douglas Counties and is Founder of the Connection Project, a for-profit company.
“The stigmas of mental health cannot be unraveled unless we begin to celebrate those who have pulled themselves back up… and then some. It’s time to acknowledge recovery success.”
Jason’s mission is to advance human connection by embracing the conversation of fighters; the folks whose journeys from black to light give hope to those that deserve a 2nd or even a 3rd chance to be the ambassadors of conversation. The present narrative about mental health is often perpetuated through sad, scary, or traumatic events, which typically overlooks individuals who are simply struggling with functional life issues. The Connection Project takes a fresh approach by focusing on those who have turned their personal struggle around to champion for a community-driven cause. Through the raw focus on the individual, Jason nourishes honest conversation to birth a system of ‘next level’ social responsibility. He joined me this week to tell me more.