Generation SOS

The shared passion of everyone involved with Generation S.O.S. is to empower a movement of teens and young adults to help each other cope with the extraordinary challenges of mental health issues, including substance misuse and, too often, addiction, overdose, and death. While we know this subject is on the minds of literally all teens and young adults (and their parents), there is much they dont know because of the stigma, shame, and misinformation surrounding it. Worse, these critical issues are rarely discussed openly. Our ever-expanding resources include a robust website with an array of educational information a tool kit of coping skills, a curated video library of teens and young adults sharing their stories about mental health and substance challenges, a highly informative podcast series, timely articles from vetted sources, and more.

Greatly Expanded Social Media Presence While the impact and sense of community created by our in-person meetings is unrivaled, social media is the fastest and easiest way to reach the greatest number of teens and young adults all across the country. Last year, we dramatically increased our presence on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and LinkedIn. We typically post on these platforms daily, and sometimes more frequently. In addition, the 70 members of our Youth Advisory Board regularly create and share posts. In the past year our social media reach increased more than ten-fold. We are in the process of creating a Young Professional Advisory Board to help Generation S.O.S. spread its message of hope and health to young adults who recently entered the workplace.

Generation S.O.S. in schools the primary delivery channel for Generation S.O.S. takes our message of hope and help into middle schools, high schools, and colleges across the country. Students and administrators invariably tell us these highly engaging, interactive sessions are the best, most informative assemblies/meetings they have ever held/attended. Students often come forth after these meetings to say they are struggling and need help. We also facilitate the creation of youth-led Generation S.O.S. school clubs where teens and young adults come together to continue their authentic conversations about coping with mental health challenges and substance use. Beyond schools, we also take our message to community centers (with an emphasis on under-resourced groups) as well as youth groups within places of worship. Last year we reached more than 30,000 teens and young adults through these powerful, inperson meetings.