New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies

Suicide is the second and third leading cause of death among college and high school students, respectively. One of every 12 students seriously considers suicide and one in nine attempts it.

Nearly half of mental health disorders develop by the age of 14 and two-thirds of cases develop by the age of 25. However, only about 40 percent receive treatment. Without treatment, the risk of substance abuse and suicide increases.

Clearly, students must be educated about signs of mental health disorders and suicide risk, how to get help and to not feel shame about needing help. There must be no barriers to receiving the services they need.

The New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, Inc. (NJAMHAA) and Attitudes in Reverse® (AIR) invite you and your staff and colleagues to learn about essential resources to help students foster their mental health, recognize when they need help, know that treatment is effective and feel comfortable seeking treatment. We will present these resources and illustrate their effectiveness on September 10, 2013, which is National Suicide Prevention Day, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Department of Human Services' first floor conference room at 222 South Warren St., Trenton, NJ.

NJAMHAA represents 180 providers of mental healthcare, substance use treatment and support services. We advocate to state and federal government leaders for adequate funding and supportive legislation, and we provide training and other resources to maximize our members' abilities to serve everyone in need. The bottom line is we strive to ensure unimpeded access to behavioral health care. One major barrier is stigma, which both NJAMHAA and AIR aim to eliminate.

AIR educates students about the signs of mental health disorders and suicide risk and encourages them to seek help when needed. The presentation, Coming Up for AIR, is clearly effective. A high school student said, "Thank you for making me aware of the possibility that I could have a mental illness. After the AIR presentation, I got help and I got diagnosed with Depression and a Social Anxiety Disorder. So, thank you again for giving the presentation, ultimately helping me to make the decision to get help and save my life."

The lives of 14- to 25-year-olds depend on it.

Click here today to register for this free event.