Ariella S. - You Are Not Alone!

My name is Ariella Sheppard. Welcome to my Mightycause page! I am a member of the Jewish Teen Foundation (JTF) - a San Francisco Jewish Community Federation program that teaches teens how to create social change through philanthropy.

Through JTF, I have become inspired as a teenager to make a difference, both locally and worldwide. This year, we decided to focus on helping people struggling with their mental health,  because, as teenagers, we have first-hand witnessed the effects of mental health struggles and how urgent getting help can be —especially with how they’ve been magnified by Covid-19. Our board came to a consensus on the following mission statement that will guide our work:

The Jewish Teen Foundation South Board is committed to supporting individuals struggling with mental health issues through organizations/initiatives that further access to quality mental health care and combat social stigma.

- The CDC states that over 50% of people globally will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point throughout their life, while 1 in 5 Americans experience a mental illness in a given year. 

- Mental Health First Aid shares the saddening statistic that the average delay between the onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years. This means that the average person will struggle with their mental health for over a decade before they get help. 

- Mental health issues span a wide range of symptoms and severities, yet each one presents a difficult battle. In many cases, people struggling with their mental health have trouble getting up in the morning and finding meaning in their lives. Mental health issues can cause people to withdraw from their loved ones. Oftentimes, those loved ones want to support their friend/family member who is struggling, but they don’t know how to approach it. 

It can be so isolating to struggle with mental health issues and feel like there is no one who understands or can help. 

All people should be able to receive mental health aid/treatment as soon as they need it, which is why I am asking for your support through a donation. With your contribution, together, we will be able to help fund carefully vetted organizations that provide education on and access to mental health services.  We are taking the research we have done, speaking with experts, community members, etc. to understand the needs and gaps, so we can award grants to the most mission and values-aligned nonprofits tackling the problem head-on and supporting so many in our community. Please donate no later than April 10th, 2023.

Thank you so much for taking the time to learn more about mental health and for your kind donation to help more people get the mental health support they deserve! 

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, I am always available by email at ariellaelana@gmail.com.