Princeton NJ Schools Announcements

Increasing Rates of Depression, Anxiety Underscore the Need for Mental Health Education to Save Lives

PRINCETON, NJ, September 6, 2024 – According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent report on the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, the percentages of high school students experiencing depression and hopelessness, seriously considering attempting suicide and actually trying to take their own lives have increased nearly every year from 2013 to 2023. However, many school districts recently enacted budget cuts that included reductions in funding for district mental health education.

“The importance of mental health education cannot be overstated, especially since the rates of depression and anxiety among children, adolescents and young adults have been increasing since before the pandemic and are continuing to rise,” said Tricia Baker, Co-Founder of Attitudes In Reverse® (AIR®), a Princeton-based nonprofit whose mission is to save lives through mental health and suicide prevention education. AIR has been proactive in educating students from elementary grades through college with the unique and extremely impactful addition of certified therapy dogs at every program.

“AIR’s program is the only one that actively fosters help-seeking behaviors, and the percentages of students sharing their difficulties and worries about friends have significantly increased since the pandemic,” Baker said.

“The surveys that are distributed and students complete save lives,” stated Dawn Aulisi, Student Assistance Coordinator for Toms River Regional Schools. “The presentation has an emotional impact on all who experience it, regardless of age. Also, the presentation does not just end. There is always follow-up and, in my opinion, that is what makes AIR extremely unique and successful.”

“Once I saw the Coming Up for AIR program, I knew that I wanted to incorporate it into our Suicide Education and Prevention Curriculum presentations in our health classes,” said Suzanne Keller, LSW, MSW, Supervisor of The SOURCE School-Based Youth Services Program and

Freshman Academy at Red Bank Regional High School. “The partnership with AIR has allowed us to educate students and provide them with practical tools and a supportive community.”

In recognition of Aulisi and Keller’s continuation of AIR’s programs for their students, AIR will present them with Partners in Hope awards during its 8^th Annual Taste of Hope event on October 9, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Princeton Marriott at Forrestal, Princeton, New Jersey.

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Attitudes In Reverse^® (AIR^®) was established by Tricia, Kurt and Katelyn Baker of Plainsboro, NJ, in 2010, soon after their son/brother Kenny died by suicide following a long battle against severe depression and anxiety. Their mission is to save lives by educating students about mental health, related disorders and suicide prevention. Since January 2011, they have presented to more than 200,000 students in elementary, middle and high schools and colleges in New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Missouri, Texas and Arizona. AIR also offers the AIR Dogs: Paws for Minds^SM program, bringing dogs into schools to help students de-stress and engage in the conversation about mental health. In addition, AIR trains and certifies Emotional Support Animals and offers a lunch-and-learn program for businesses. For more information about AIR, please visit www.air.ngo or call 609-945-3200.