COLUMBUS, Ohio — As of 2018, suicide became the second leading cause of death in Black children from ages 10 to 14, and the third leading cause of death in Black adolescents from ages 15 to 19, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation partnered with Canvaas Consulting of Columbus to create an initiative to address the alarming trend.

 

What You Need To Know

  • A new statewide campaign is encouraging young Black men to talk about their mental health while offering them much needed resources

  • The “Life is Better With You Here” campaign is dedicated to creating and connecting young Black adults with the resources needed to address their mental health

  • The campaign also encourages people to check on peers who might be struggling , saying sometimes a  text them, phone call, or visit can prevent someone from committing suicide

 

Elyse Applewhite is a strategist at Canvaas and says suicide prevention was a cause the branding firm was eager to get behind so they rolled-out the “Life is Better With You Here" campaign. 

“We know that representation matters. So, as members of this particular community, we have that general understanding of what some of the stigmas are and what the challenges are. So, they have also — they as in the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation — have given us the freedom to be creatively expressive and doing what we needed to do to reach this hard to reach population.” Applewhite says.

Canvaas co-manager Dionté Johnson says “Life is Better With You Here” is more than posters or social media content. The campaign includes events that bring Black communities together to hold conversations about mental health.  

“We don't often talk about this stuff. We don't we don't get a chance... to be vulnerable in our community, so you know we at least get people to where they feel like you're OK with having the conversation, and you know that's that's a great step — great first step.” Johnson says

And facilitating some of these conversations are people like Chris Suel, a “Life is Better With You Here” ambassador who can connect with those experiencing depression or suicidal thoughts because he’s been there. 

“We didn't have organizations like Canvaas that represented us and talked about this type of stuff right because it was kind of like don't talk about it. It (didn't) exist and so for me, I didn't know who to reach out to. In my mind, I'm thinking that I'm only dealing with this issue alone,” Suel says.

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, between 1991 and 2017, suicide attempts among black adolescents increased by 73%. The National Institute of Mental Health says one factor that may be contributing to increases in the risk of suicide in Black youth may be disparities in access to mental health services. Yaves Ellis, is the co-manager of Canvaa,s and says the team is dedicated to creating and connecting young Black adults with the resources needed to address their mental health.  

“We’re not just having the conversation, but we're also giving a solution and resources for those who are dealing with these thoughts in dealing with these problems and letting you know that it's not a weakness. Actually, speaking up makes you stronger than it does make you weak," Ellis says.