TeenHelp - Awareness

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- - Awareness (http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f11-depression-suicide/t118202-awareness/)

Hey guys and girls! :)

So recently, I've been really interested in raising awareness for different causes, so I thought I would list some ideas on here of different awards causes you might be interested in and how you can help. :)

ANTI-BULLYING
-Wear a sparkly blue ribbon. Signifies how bullying can make you sad or bring you down (blue), but also how you can come out shining (sparkles, sequins, glitter, etc.)

-Run a campaign at your school. Raise awareness about bullying and tell people how they can help.

-Report any bullying you know of. If you or someone you know is being bullied, report it to your school so they can put a stop to it.

-Show kindness and compassion to everyone. Whether or not you like or know the person, still be kind and polite to them anyway.

SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS AND PREVENTION

See this page: http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f13-r...vention-month/

SUICIDE PREVENTION
-Break the silence. Educate people on the facts about suicide. Ignorance isn't always bliss, after all. Without knowing the facts, how can you help?

-Help people. It you know someone who is suicidal, please report it to someone, whether it's the person's parents, school personnel, it whoever. Just report it to someone who can help.

-Where a yellow ribbon. Yellow ribbons symbolize suicide prevention.

SELF HARM PREVENTION AND AWARENESS
-Wear an orange or yellow ribbon.

-Spread the facts about self harm. People can't do anything if they don't know.

-If you know somebody who is having themselves, report it to your school counselor so somebody can help that person.

There are other causes, but I can't very well lost them all. So if there are causes that I don't have on here, feel free to look it up!

Also, if there are other things that I could put under a category that I have on here, please let me know so I can add them! :)

Hey, this is really a great thing that you want to get awareness out :) These are HUGE issues, and so many people don't know that.

This is going to sound silly, but could someone copy and paste the sexual assault one in a reply here? My computer blocks the link because this is my school computer :p

Anyways, again, its a great way to get these issues in real life noticed, and to remind everyone dealing with one, or maybe more then one, to stay strong :hug:

Hi there, MB!

On behalf of everyone, thanks for all the useful information! I'll be sure to keep all of this in mind, especially as I have been interested in raising awareness of certain issues myself. So, thank you! :)

I also want to say that it's great that you want to raise awareness of such things yourself. That's a very admirable thing to do. c: I can't think of anything you can add off the top of my head, but if you do think of anything yourself, you should definitely add it in!

Again, thanks for making this post. Take care. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FixYou♥ (Post 1017794)

Yes, of course I can. :) Just a moment. :)

Here is the sexual abuse information from the link, in case you can't follow the link for any reason. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBach528 (Post 1014716)

Hi guys!

So, back in 2009, President Obama made April officially Sexual Abuse Awareness and Prevention month. This is a month to break the silence about this terrible crime.

Why Should You Care?
On average, about 44% of sexual abuse victims are under the age of 18 and about 80% of victims are under the age of 30

Every two minutes, somebody in the U.S. is sexually assaulted.

Every year, there are about 207,754 victims of sexual assault

54% of assaults are never reported to the police

97% of rapists will never spend a day in jail

2/3 of rapes are committed by somebody the victim knows well

38% of rapists are a friend or acquaintance of the victim

1 in every 6 American women has been or will be a victim of sexual assault - 14.8% is completed rape, 2.8% is attempted, but not completed, rape

7% of girls in grades 5-8 and 12% of girls in grades 9-12 say they have been sexually abused

Victims of Sexual Assault are:
3 times more likely to suffer depression
6 times more likely to suffer post-traumatic stress disorder
13 times more likely to abuse alcohol
26 times more likely to abuse drugs
4 times more likely to contemplate suicide

What Can You Do?
BREAK THE SILENCE - if you have been sexually abused, report it to the police, so they can get one more rapist off the street. Tell your story (if and only if you are ready and comfortable to do so) to your school, local teen group, or wherever you can to get the word out. If you are NOT comfortable or ready, tell my story, (info on how to get there is below in the next step)

TELL A STORY - if you weren't sexually abused but you want to do something, talk to people you know about the story of someone you know who was sexually abused. If you don't know anyone, I am giving you my permission to use my story. You can find my story here: http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f13-r...7864-my-story/

***WEAR A TEAL RIBBON - the teal ribbon is the symbol of Sexual Abuse Awareness and Prevention. Wear one - it will show people that you stand against sexual abuse. If somebody doesn't know what it means, tell them!

***MALES, WEAR A WHITE RIBBON - men and boys should wear a white ribbon to symbolize their efforts to end sexual violence, and their promise never to commit the crime themselves. Tell all the males you know to do this, as well.

FUNDRAISER - organize a fundraiser at your school. Sell teal ribbons and maybe have a bake sale. Then donate all the money raised to a rape crisis center, or an organization like RAINN.

SPREAD THE WORD LOCALLY - write a letter to your local newspaper, explaining the importance of this month.

***LET ME CLARIFY A BIT: THE TEAL RIBBON IS TO SYMBOLIZE THAT YOU ARE AGAINST SEXUAL VIOLENCE. THE WHITE RIBBON IS TO SHOW THAT YOU WILL NEVER COMMIT THE CRIME YOURSELF AND YOU WILL DO YOUR BEST TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM BEING VICTIMIZED.

Victims especially should wear teal ribbons and men especially should wear white ribbon, but anybody can wear either color.

WHATEVER YOU CAN DO, DO IT!!!! LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO END SEXUAL ABUSE!!!

However, whatever you do, make sure it's safe. Please, if you know somebody who has sexually abused somebody in any way, do NOT confront the person, but report it to the police immediately. If you are in any immediate danger, call 911. Don't put yourself in unnecessary danger.

If anybody has any other ideas on how you can help, or any other reasons why you should care, please tell me!! :) All suggestions and ideas are welcome and encouraged!!!! :D

Alright, thanks for posting these! :)

MB, I think it's really great what you're doing as all of these are pretty serious issues that a lot of us deal with - in secret sometimes. So it's really amazing you're trying to raise awareness. :hug:

You're amazing!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christabel (Post 1018086)

Aww, thanks Hon. :) You're so sweet! :hug: