Per the Kansas Health Institute‘s publication Understanding The Mental Health System in Kansas published October 2017 for a study from 2014 – 2015, a startling 9.8% of adults aged 18 – 25 years have experienced a “Major Depressive Episode in the Past Year.” Diving deeper, 7.9% of the same age category “Had Serious Thoughts of Suicide in the Past Year.” (Pages 8 and 7, respectively.)
Think about that for a moment. Nearly 10% of our young adults are really struggling.
My promise to you? We are going to bring these statistics out in to the light so we can begin to initiate real change.
In the last two days I’ve had no less than 5 people ask me to continue this budding campaign. Why? Because they live with the stigma of mental health challenges for either themselves or a close loved one.
Listen, I don’t arrive on this scene with all the answers. I’m better at questions, quite frankly. I do know this; We live in a great country full of resourceful, smart people. If we get enough influential people asking the right questions we can begin the process of determining the right answers.
There won’t be any “Easy Button” and this is going to take time. A first step has to be taken. Take it with me.
