In 2023, yli launched a program in partnership with the Sierra Health Foundation to increase healthy attitudes and behaviors, reduce stigma around mental health, and support youth to reach out for help when they need it. The Never A Bother (https://neverabother.org) aims to reduce suicide attempts and deaths, and focuses on youth who are disproportionately impacted by racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination that make them particularly vulnerable to suicide.
The program is exciting because it combines local, statewide and organizational efforts to train up youth and their adult allies to recognize when youth are in crisis, and create content that meet youth where they are at with the supports they need.
Local efforts are based in Long Beach, where yli is working alongside a group of youth leaders to offer informational presentations and publications throughout the city, and Merced, where youth leaders are organizing educational events and campaigns in schools and on social media. Follow Merced’s work on their Instagram at @you.are.sacred, and Long Beach Instagram at @yli.lbc.
At the statewide level, yli is working with Civilian – a marketing and communications agency – to share youth-created content and messaging across our social media channels. And we’ll be working internally as an organization to create policies and protocols to train our staff to recognize and support youth when they are in crisis.
Interested in joining?
If you live in Long Beach, you can fill out this Interest Form or reach out to Carlos Omar at [email protected] for more information on how to participate.
If you live in Merced, reach out to Daniel Garibay at [email protected] for more information on how to participate.