Download the Summit Registration Form
Every time we see a teen suicide, bullying incident, eating disorder, or youth tragedy in the news, it breaks someone's heart—like yours or mine—as we wonder, how can we help? But far more telling than what we see in the headlines is what remains unspoken. One family is thinking, "We never saw this coming." One teacher is thinking, "That happened here, too." One friend is thinking, "I hope it wasn't my fault." One leader is thinking, "Good thing we don't have those problems here." One health care provider is thinking, "We did the best we could." And thousands of kids are thinking, "I'm going through the same thing...but I can't tell anyone."
Stigma is the number one reason people are afraid to seek help, but LETS youth are changing that.
Who Are LETS Youth? What Do They Do?
Let's Erase the Stigma Educational Foundation addresses issues that youth face every single day in school, in the media, and at home—issues that are sometimes hard to discuss. But LETS youth are changing the world because they are not afraid to say something about:
- Mental health (including concerns like depression, eating disorders, cutting, substance abuse, anxiety, stress, and self esteem)
- Bullying
- Teen suicide
- Discrimination, prejudice, and stereotypes
- School safety, gangs, and teen violence
- Substance abuse
- Exclusion of anyone who feels alone or "different"
LETS youth erase the stigma—that is, the social shame, fear, and judgement that make it hard to openly discuss these issues. LETS youth come from all walks of life, whether they have challenges or simply want to make a difference. They care about:
- Leadership
- Community service
- Advocacy
- Social change
- Creative projects
- Citizenship
- Extracurricular activities
- Speaking up and sharing ideas
- Reaching out to those in need
The young leaders of LETS Clubs decide what they want to do to—whether it's peer-to-peer education, events, discussions—and LETS Educational Foundation helps by providing resources and funding for each LETS Club.
Join Let’s Erase the Stigma Educational Foundation for
Come to the California Endowment for the Arts on May 23, 2012 to participate in breakout sessions, video projects, guest speakers, and a day of using your ideas to erase the stigma of mental illness!
- LETS will raffle off LETS-engraved iPod Touches.
- Participants qualify for community service hours
- T-shirts for all participants
Register now to reserve your school’s place at this historic event!
Email us summit@lets.org to request your registration packet.
Click here to see a video of last year’s summit!
Thank you to our 2nd Annual Youth Summit Sponsors
Let's Erase the Stigma
LETS Educational Foundation is saving kids today from tomorrow by ERASING the stigma of mental illness. We're a charity for children and a positive force for early education and prevention that saves kids today from tomorrow's issues: issues like bullying, teen suicide, eating disorders, depression, cutting and self-harm, substance abuse, and the fear of talking to adults about things that matter. Ignoring these topics due to fear of stigma isn't helpful, but LETS can help!
How do we make a difference? We erase the silencing stigma of mental illness by opening up conversations with young people. Let's talk today, again tomorrow, and even more later. Let's talk every day! After all, mental illness isn't embarrassing or spooky, but an ongoing health concern. We can help children, teens, and young adults right now—before crisis and while they can still unlearn the stigma! —so that tomorrow looks better for everyone.
Our Mission: Let's Erase the Stigma Educational Foundation (LETS) is a nonprofit, 501(c) (3) organization dedicated to erasing the stigma of mental illness by funding and developing educational programs, mentoring opportunities, and research possibilities designed to empower youth to change the perception of mental illness.
