Breaking financial and social barriers to mental health
Rise Against Suicide helps youth at risk of suicide by removing the financial and social barriers to treatment, enabling them to find hope and healing.
About Rise Against Suicide
What we do
Rise Against Suicide funds therapy sessions for at-risk youth struggling with suicidal ideation in the geographic areas included in Boulder Valley School District and St. Vrain Valley School District. Young people up to the age of 19 who are experiencing suicidal thoughts and are uninsured or underinsured are eligible for funded counseling services through RISE. The organization receives referrals from private and public elementary, middle, and high schools, community social workers, psychologists and mental health professionals, hospitals, and mental health facilities. Within hours of receiving a request for help, at-risk youth can be connected with qualified, private therapists; this immediate response is unique to Rise Against Suicide.
WHO WE ARE
Rise Against Suicide is a nonprofit based in Lafayette, Colorado. Our mission is to help young people at risk of suicide by removing the financial and social barriers to treatment, helping them to find hope and healing. The organization was originally founded as Second Wind Fund of Boulder County in 2009; however its name was changed in 2020 to better reflect what our organization does and strives toward every day.
WhERE WE SERVE
RISE serves in the geographic areas serviced by Boulder Valley School District and Saint Vrain Valley School District.
Our Company History
Rise Against Suicide (RISE) was founded in 2009 to support the growing number of youth in Boulder County experiencing suicidal ideation. We connect kids in Boulder, Longmont, and surrounding areas who are 19 and under to trained therapists who can help them better understand their thoughts and feelings. Our mission is to help young people at risk of suicide by removing the financial and social barriers to treatment, helping them to find hope and healing. RISE believes that every child at risk of suicide should have access to the mental health treatment they need and deserve.
Our work values
Our values at Rise Against Suicide not only help guide us in our efforts to carry out our mission, but also assist us in defining our organization.
Accessibility
Here at Rise we believe that all young people deserve to have access to quality mental health care regardless of their social and financial situations.
Compassion
At Rise it’s key that we show compassion to all who are struggling and offer them support in order to help them find hope and healing.
Community
We work with organizations within our community to cultivate meaningful relationship, which are essential in ensuring care and support for young people.
Active Listening
We believe that it is critical that we listen and genuinely hear someone because many of the youth we serve want and need their voices to be heard.
Our Team
We Rise to support hope and healing in youth struggling with suicidal ideation in our community.
Jenna Clinchard
Jenna started working for RISE in January 2019. She has a deep understanding of society's mental health challenges and a genuine commitment to help address them – especially as they impact our youth.
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Bill Heaston
Most recently, Bill has worked in the field of suicide prevention throughout the State of Colorado. An avid Creighton Bluejays basketball fan, Bill loves to adventure and is most happy with his two pups, Millie and Phineas.
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Michelle Aquino
After graduate school, Michelle worked on the development team at The Michael J. Fox Foundation from 2009-2015. She planned, produced, and executed the Foundation’s five annual benefit events, raising approximately $6 million annually.
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Elise Ertl
Elise joined Rise Against Suicide in October of 2023, passionate about mental health and having access to the right mental health resources after seeing her own family and friends struggle without the help they needed.
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Download the Rise Against Suicide 2022 Annual Report below and learn more about how we are able to reach mission milestones, all with your help.
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