Thank you

 

More than half the teens meet the criteria for a mental health disorder. Half! The number one cause of death for teens is now suicide.

Last year, the school districts in Salt Lake County and Utah County have averaged more than one referral every other day to school counselors for suicidal behaviors. Do the math, there are 180 school days per year.

 

On top of all this, the mental health system is broken for teens. The typical talk therapy session is $100-$200 per 50 minutes. That is simply not enough time commitment to make a meaningful change. And it isn't an environment where teens feel like they can open up and share what is going on. On the other end of the spectrum, wilderness therapy and residential treatment are over $50,000. Often you are then referred from wilderness to residential to outpatient. The medium family income in UT is $71,000. Simply put, that is 70% of the typical family income for just one of these options. It would be like taking a second mortgage. (If you have a minute check out 1A's discussion on the state of the industry.)

 

Youth today are losing the battle of stress and anxiety; they can’t do it on their own. Families are stuck, they are scared and are looking for answers.

 

That is why we created Pivot Adventure. Pivot Adventure is an adventure-based mentorship course for teens We specialize in helping teens who are struggling with depression, anxiety, and isolation build resiliency. It's about discovering your passion, about seeing the world as it really is and dancing with fear. Students participate in adventure activities once per week with a mixture of mental health professionals and outdoor specialists. Topics discussed are focused on improving their internal narrative (the story they tell themselves), identifying external conditions that get in the way and finally working through the conflicts of interest.

 

One bad chapter doesn't mean the story is over. Life is long. And people change. Every passing moment is a chance to turn it all around. That is why we are on a mission to provide growth opportunities for all teens regardless of what zip code they were born into. That is why we are flipping the industry on its head. (Read about the three things plaguing the teen mental health industry here.)

 

Of course, none of us would hesitate to jump in the pool to save someone who was drowning. That's is what we are looking for donors like you to jump in with us to save these teens. We are counting on you. Is that something we can talk more about? Reach out to the email below or give us a call.