This Kindness Bench is in honor of
Debra Carroll
Debra was a devoted mother who always put the needs of her children, Samantha and Jason, above all else. Her grandson, Jack, was her pride and joy.
She had an affinity for red cardinals.
She loved playing games, hanging out at her local American Legion Post 72, and spending time with friends whom she considered family. She could be brash and sling attitude as well as any New Englander could, but she was loving, caring, had a huge heart, was generous to a fault, and was always there for those in times of need.
Please remember to spread the message of kindness and self-worth. A simple act of compassion or a few encouraging words can make a meaningful difference in someone's life.
Statistics
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1 in 5
U.S. Adults experience mental illness each year
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1 in 6
U.S. Youths between the age of 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year.
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Suicide
is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-34
-
11 years
It takes an average of 11 years from the onset of a mental illness before that person will seek treatment. We need to remove the stigma.
Help is available.
If you need help call or text the mental health hotline now at 988
It’s Time to Speak Up!
We need to be able to have open conversations about mental health and suicide in order to make changes. Education and connection is the key. We need to work with our youth along with parents and the community.
Our Mission:
Our mission is to remove the stigma of mental illness and provide education on mental health, mental illness, and suicide awareness.
We offer age-appropriate programs to our youth to teach them the importance of being mentally healthy. We work with community centers, schools and hold townhall meetings. We also work with parents to educate them on the signs to look for if their child is experiencing a mental health crisis, how to talk to their children and how important it is to listen to them. Speak Up partners with law enforcement agencies to educate the officers how to interact with a person in a mental health crisis. We sponsor unique programs to have our youth involved in their community and to build relationships with them. We offer resources to those that have lost someone to suicide or who may know someone with a mental illness. Through the power of lived experience our goal is to provide hope and healing for those affected by mental health conditions and a loss by suicide. We started this organization so we could ensure that the funds we raise are used in our community. 100% of our proceeds go directly to fund local programs and events.