The Jason Foundation, Inc. (JFI) is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to fighting the silent epidemic of youth suicide through awareness and education.
The foundation was established by Clark Flatt in the late 1990s after Clark’s 16-year-old son, Jason, took his own life. While researching youth suicide following Jason’s death, Clark was shocked to discover how tragically common it is throughout the United States. In the years that JFI has been in existence, it has established partners and affiliate offices across the nation, and has worked with 14 states to mandate suicide awareness training for teachers, but education and awareness remain central to JFI’s mission. The foundation has created a school-based curriculum for students, and has developed a series of online professional development training modules for school personnel, coaches, and other adults who work with young people.
While The Jason Foundation, Inc. has taken great strides in the fight against youth suicide, much work remains. For example, consider the following from the state of Arizona:
In Arizona:
- Suicide is the second leading cause of death for middle and high school age youth (12 – 18).
- Suicide is the second leading cause of death for college age youth (18 – 22).
The Arizona Youth Risk Behavioral Survey reported:
- Almost 1 out of 5 young people seriously considered suicide in the past twelve months
- Almost 1 out of 9 young people attempted suicide in the past twelve months
At Oasis Behavioral Hospital, we are proud to join with JFI and its other partners and affiliates in the effort to end the silent epidemic of youth suicide. We encourage students and adults who live and/or work in the Arizona area and who are interested in joining the fight against youth suicide to contact Oasis Behavioral Hospital. We will be happy to help you learn more about JFI, access resources, and get training to empower you to identify and assist at-risk young people. All JFI materials acquired through Oasis Behavioral Hospital are provided at no cost to the recipient.
To learn more about Oasis Behavioral Health’s work with JFI, please contact us at your convenience. To learn more about Clark Flatt, Jason Flatt, and the life-saving work of The Jason Foundation, Inc., please visit the organization’s website, jasonfoundation.com.
