Why We Do It


“You never know whose life you may be saving.”

Most young people today are optimistic about life – but for far too many it is a different story.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people aged 15-24 years.  According to the latest data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, walk into any U.S. high school classroom of 30 students and the chances are that over the past 12 months:

  • 8 of the young people before you will have experienced extended periods of feeling hopeless;
  • 4 will have thought seriously about suicide;
  • 3 will have drawn up a suicide plan; and
  • 2 will have attempted suicide

But it doesn’t have to be this way.  Through its ReachOut.com service, the Inspire USA Foundation is working to ensure that millions of teens and young adults know where and who to turn to when times are tough.

ReachOut.com draws on a proven Australian program that contributed to a halving of the youth suicide rate over the past decade.

Launched in the US in March 2010, ReachOut.com is already having an impact in the lives of young Americans as this email from a young woman from Michigan attests:

“I would just like to thank ReachOut for everything! I discovered this website a few months ago and it has been absolutely incredible! Not only has it given me help in understand and coping with everything going on in my life, but it has also helped me to help others understand. I use to have a really hard time explaining myself to my friends and family, they always got mad at me for things and i just wanted to make them understand. Reachout has helped me do that, i finally have a place where i can show them what is going on with me. The articles and fact sheets have the words i wanted to say but could never find. My friends understand me better now and they are way more supportive now that they understand me and my illnesses.

The main reason that i wanted to thank everyone that helped create, run, and contribute to this website is because it has helped me get past another potential suicide attempt. I’ve been having a really hard time lately and this website has saved my life. I’ve been thinking about suicide a lot lately and the stories on here have helped me move past the thoughts and work to get better again. Thank you to everyone who has been brave enough to share their story. it really does help, you never know who’s life you may be saving.”

“Shanna” 17, Michigan, July 20th 2010