Speak Up by Briana

Speak Up by Briana - May 2019 Scholarship Essay

I had just received the news: a $10,000 grant had just been given to me. I was buzzing with energy; this was it, I could start something good with this money. But what was I going to do?
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for ages 15-34, responsible for thousands of deaths each year. Over the past fifteen years, suicide rates have risen by 24% and still continue to rise. Millions of people all across the globe struggle with mental illness - the most common being anxiety and depression - and yet people do not want to acknowledge it. For years, the issue has been pushed down and put to the side. It was made to feel wrong to talk about anything involving mental illness like it is something to be ashamed of. Well, I'm here to say enough. We cannot stay quiet anymore. We cannot stay quiet when millions of people are struggling and feel so alone to the point that they want to take their own life. It is not right, and I do not want us as a community to stay quiet any longer.
If I was really given a $10,000 grant to positively impact my hometown some way, I would dedicate the grant to awareness and support on mental health. Not talking about it does not do any good. It leaves people feeling isolated in their struggles when they are not alone. I would want to start by putting teachers through suicide prevention training. Teachers see their students nearly every day and would be one of the first people to notice if something is off. Many do, but they do not know how to approach a student who is struggling. The training can educate them on warning signs and how to help someone. Then I would want to extend the knowledge to the students in the school. They can learn the warning signs as well so they can look out for their friends. It can start a safe conversation across the board on mental health and how to tackle something as big as suicide.
Next, I would want to provide resources to schools to keep on hand for students. An example is the green bracelets from "Teen Lifeline". On these bracelets, it says "you are not alone" followed by the lifeline's number. It is an easy way to keep a lifeline number on hand if someone needs it. Pamphlets can be kept in classrooms or the office with local resources and other hotline numbers as well as warning signs, ways to help others, and ways to help themselves. The main things I would want to focus on include the fact that everyone is struggling in some way and how to take care of yourself when struggling. When it comes down to it, it is the person on their own that has to want to get better, but some form of support system is needed.
With a $10,000 grant, I would start a program in schools that raise awareness on the issue of mental health and give students a safe place to talk to someone if they need help. Suicide is a major issue, and the only way it can get better is by talking about it. Everyone deserves the chance to speak up and get better but many are scared to speak up when they need to. In reality, I do not have a $10,000 grant to do this sort of thing, but that does not mean I will not do anything. With my friends, we have started a club much like what I explained in my own school. We hope one day to spread our message and ideas to other schools because it has helped us with our struggles, and we want to give that chance to everyone else as well.