Spurred on by the suicide of his 16-year-old son Jason in 1997 and the realization that youth suicide is a nationwide epidemic, Clark Flatt created the Jason Foundation, Inc. (JFI) with the mission to stem the “silent epidemic” of youth suicide. JFI uses educational materials, in-class instruction, seminars, and person-to-person contact to spread awareness about the tragic reality of youth suicide. As a result of JFI’s efforts, 14 states across the country have passed the Jason Flatt Act, requiring suicide awareness training for teachers. In addition, JFI had developed a school curriculum for youth, and seminars that raise awareness for youth suicide and teach participants how to prevent it.
Despite these significant gains, there is still much work to be done. In the state of Louisiana, youth suicide remains a problem:
In Louisiana:
- Suicide is the second leading cause of death for middle and high school age youth (12 – 18).
- Suicide is the third leading cause of death for college age youth (18 – 22).
The Louisiana Youth Risk Behavioral Survey reported:
- Almost 1 out of 6 young people seriously considered suicide in the past twelve months
- Almost 1 out of 9 young people attempted suicide in the past twelve months
Because of the work that the Jason Foundation is doing, we at Acadiana Treatment Center are proud to partner with them in their mission. For all who are interested in joining the fight against youth suicide in the Lafayette area, we encourage you to contact us. We are happy to provide information, training, and materials to help you and other members of the community identify and help young people who are at risk of suicide. At Acadiana Treatment Center, all JFI materials are provided free of charge.
Those interested in learning more about Acadiana Treatment Center’s work with the Jason Foundation need only to call us. If you wish to learn more about Jason Flatt, Clark Flatt, and the remarkable work and history of the Jason Foundation, simply go to jasonfoundation.com in your web browser.
