This past month at Ohio AAP’s Annual Meeting, the Store It Safe (SIS) Teen Suicide Prevention Program officially launched! The Store It Safe Teen program aims to identify teens with mental health concerns, provide appropriate interventions, and create barriers to the most lethal means for suicide. Even before the significant impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has seen stay-at-home orders & changes in school schedules create the perfect storm for increased mental health issues and suicide risks in teens- teen suicide was a growing problem. Suicide is the leading cause of death among Ohio teens and preteens ages 10 to 14 and the second leading cause of death among Ohioans ages 15 to 34. The adolescent suicide rate has also increased by 56% over the past 10 years. These worrying statistics make the Store It Safe message perhaps more important than ever.
Thanks to the generous donations raised over the last year for the SIS Teen program, Ohio AAP will be distributing FREE gun lock boxes to practices and organizations across the state. The application for gun lock boxes is now open and is open to all who are interested in promoting safe storage practices. The Ohio AAP will provide gun lock boxes to promote safe storage based upon the available funding, number of applications, and need of each community/organization. Please see details on the application below and share this information with others who may be interested.
For details and to apply, please visit click the link below! *Notification of awards will be made by early 2021.
To learn more about the SIS Program or to view and access the below information and resources, visit http://ohioaap.org/sisteen!
Before we ring in the New Year, there is also still time to make a difference in 2020 and the year to come! Donations help support many of the Chapter’s programs including the Store It Safe Teen (SIS) Program.
A $20 donation can purchase one gun box to keep Ohio’s teens safe– but every donation, no matter the amount helps. Along with supporting the Store It Safe program, YOUR year-end gift will allow us to:
For more information, please contact Olivia Simon at osimon@ohioaap.org.