How One Colorado Town Is Tackling Suicide Prevention — Starting With The Kids

In the wake of high-profile shootings, proposals such as banning assault weapons gain momentum. But there are solutions few national politicians are looking at that take a very different tack.

Arts education programs in the United States are subjected to cutting for maintaining tight school budgets. Technology sectors in Seattle seek professionals who have been trained in problem solving skills and innovative idea generation. In response, Seattle Public Schools and the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture collaborate to promote equity in students’ access to the arts.

Domestic violence victims often suffer in silence and do not have encouragement to find help. San Luis Obispo in California has created a program RISE that trains primary care physicians to identify signs of domestic abuse and collaborates with clinics to treat and rehabilitate victims. The Affordable Care Act provides coverage for domestic violence screenings, offering financial incentives to help get victims the help that they need.

The number of people deported from the USA back to El Savador is only rising under the Trump administration, leaving these individuals with the daunting task of starting over. English Cool is a program where deportees teach students English while acting as mentors and pushing them to think about ways to improve the country.

Media and public scrutiny as well as the experience of being detained can worsen the outlook for juvenile offenders. Increasing court involvement, keeping the media at bay, and having a juvenile facility can help the circumstances.

A tech-enabled solution from two students at the University of Oregon allows community members to connect in order to best support homeless youth. The platform, called the Rapid Access Network (RAN), serves as a way for individuals who identify needs for homeless youth to immediately alert the appropriate service provider and facilitate a quick delivery of supplies or services.

Community advocates and mental health organizations like NAMI are creating mental health support groups and informational sessions at barbershops for Black men. The Black male community is strongly impacted by mental health stigma and these groups and resources bring members of the community together to support each other.

Lawrence Hall’s transitional housing in Chicago is a safe space for members of the LGBTQ+ community in the foster care system to live and receive wraparound support while they get ready for the next step in their lives, whatever that may be. Many of the staff also identify as LGBTQ+ and help them learn to cook, keep a job, or answer questions about things like hormone therapy and gender-affirming care.

Transforming Research into Action to Improve the Lives of Students (TRAILS) provides a group environment for students experiencing mental health issues to discuss their feelings and find a sense of community among their peers facing similar concerns. This school-based program makes care more accessible for students as it brings it directly to the classroom for free. Since beginning in 2013, TRAILS has been implemented in 700 schools throughout the state.

Women and Children with Albinism in Uganda is a supportive shelter for women and children with albinism to build a community and be safe from stigma and violence. At the shelter, women are trained in a variety of skills, like tailoring and farming, to be able to sustain themselves and their families. Over the past decade, about 40 women and children across four regions have been positively impacted by the group.