The formation of RG MindfulHealth 4 OUR Youth is a direct response to the increasing number of youths that are being bullied, having increased feelings of sadness, thinking of self-harm, has attempted suicide, anxiety, or any other signs and symptoms associated with mental health. 
 
“Child and adolescent mental health is defined as the capacity to achieve and maintain optimal psychological functioning and well-being. It is directly related to the level reached and competence achieved in psychological and social functioning.” Furthermore, child and adolescent mental health includes a sense of identity and self-worth;
 
Bullying: seek to harm, intimidate, or coerce (someone perceived as vulnerable).


5 types of bullying:

1. Physical-most visible
2. Verbal-most frequent
3. Social-least well-known (isolates youth but not allowing them or asking them to participate in activities)
4. Cyber-saying means things on social media
5. Sexual (may be a physical act or sexist comments that refer to youth’s body)

 

The nationally statistics of youths of youths being bullied has increased to critical numbers all over the nation.  Bullying has been at the top of the top three reasons why youths are trying to take their lives or have completed suicide. As a result of being bullied, youths are having a hard time informing parents, school, or friends. They often suffer in silence. There are often signs but with the lack of mental health awareness, these signs are often missed or ignored.


Constant complaining of an illness, refusing to go to school, acting out at school, isolating, increased anger and aggression are some common signs. These signs if unnoticed or ignored can have a lasting effect throughout the youth’s life and carry on into adulthood.

Other violence prevention partners have reported that the relationship between bullying and suicide is a serious health problem that needs more awareness and support. This health problem has caused the number of youths being treated for mental health to drastically increase requiring additional financial cost to the nation.

​One contributing factor to the increasing number of youths being bullied has been with the improvement of technology. Social media provides a medium (cyberbullying) that negative things can reach thousands of people in a short time. It doesn’t matter where one lives, what schools youths attend, race, or socioeconomic status, bully has the potential to affect us all directly or indirectly.
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People don't feel comfortable getting mental health care necessarily, because they're worried that their friends are going to think they're unstable or they're crazy. Bulling can affect every area of the body. These effects can last a lifetime if they are not dealt with.

"There are wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds".
                                                                                                                                          -Laurell K. Hamiltion