Youthline national expansion - lines for life's youthline program plans to build capacity to meet the mental health needs of youth ages 10-24 across oregon and nationwide

Samhsa funding will support: - growing capacity at existing youthline sites in portland and central oregon by training additional volunteers and expanding education/outreach in underserved communities across oregon. - creating and expanding satellite sites that support youth development/volunteerism to marginalized and distanced youth. This includes initiating a fellowship program and contributes to the work force development of a new generation of behavioral health workers while also building diversity among youth volunteers supporting youth in crisis. - providing mini-grant support to schools across oregon working to implement their school suicide prevention plans. - building systems and infrastructure that can serve 25,000+ teens in crisis with teen-to-teen peer crisis help by the end of 2023. Future goals include: continued expansion of the youthline national program to reach and support more youth in the mid-west and east coast, raising awareness nationwide through education, outreach, marketing and advertising, and building partnerships with national organizations that promote mental wellness and the national youthline. Within 3-5 years, the youthline hopes to engage with 100,000 teens via outreach and through the call center. Youth suicide is a national crisis in the U.S. - IT is the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10-24 nationally and in oregon. The suicide rate for tweens aged 10-14 has nearly tripled from 2007 to 2017. The suicide rate increased 36% from 2000 to 2017. We know the pandemic has caused even more feelings of isolation, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation for our youth. The pandemic has also exposed the lack of mental health support for youth in america. As experts, we know the earlier we can intervene with a youth, the more likely we are to get them help, normalize reaching out, and decrease stigma around mental health. Since 1999, lines for life's youthline program has been supporting youth experiencing mental health issues across oregon and nationwide. Youthline has 132 youth volunteers ranging in age from 15 to 24 who are extensively trained and mentored throughout their volunteer or intern experience. Youthline classroom/community education is well-established across the portland metro area, central oregon, and statewide. In 2021, youthline's peer-to-peer crisis line connected with 24,783 youth - a 140% increase in the last 5 years. This rapid growth indicates the need to elevate the national youthline presence to expand capacity and directly address barriers and access to mental health, volunteerism, and workforce development particularly for vulnerable youth minoritized communities in oregon. This expansion will directly address the ongoing mental health needs facing youth in america.