#YouMatter Day - Suicide Prevention and Awareness for Area Middle Schools

We invite you to support #YouMatter Suicide Prevention Day, an initiative being offered in area Middle Schools on May 26, 2022. Around 3,000 America students attempt suicide each DAY! And, among students aged 10-14, suicides have doubled since 2006, making it the second leading cause of death. According to The Jason Foundation, more teenagers die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, pneumonia, influenza, stroke, chronic lung disease, AIDS, and birth defects, COMBINED. This is why we need your funding to help bring awareness to this cause.

For all ages, Montana ranks 3rd highest for death by suicide in the nation. According to the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 10% of Montana students grades 9-12 have attempted suicide. In a vast and alarming difference, the survey shows grades 6-8 have 15.6% of students who attempted suicide in the 12 months before the survey.

We are asking for your help to provide funds for #YouMatter Suicide Prevention Day. This event began with the W.O.W. students at Castle Rock Middle School, but has expanded to all Middle Schools across Billings Public Schools. We are raising funds to buy purple and teal ribbons, silicone bracelets, and You Matter affirmation cards for every middle school staff and student. If we raise more money than needed for these items we are establishing a fund that BPS schools can use to pay for other suicide prevention and mental health needs: ex. Speakers for assemblies, training and support curriculum for social emotional learning and mental health needs of our students, etc. One obstacle schools face in accessing these extra supports is funding and we want to eliminate this obstacle so we can eliminate suicide!

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to this cause. Checks can be made to the Education Foundation or EFBPS and add in the memo line #YouMatter Day. Then, join us in the cause to create suicide prevention and awareness by wearing purple and teal on May 26, 2022.

#YouMatter Day

By Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools

#YouMatter Day

Suicide Prevention and Awareness Across Billings' Middle Schools