Our Organization
The Silence Ends Today, also known as The SET, is a nonprofit organization providing suicidal and mental awareness programs for adolescents in the Greater Charleston area. Here at the SET, we hope to foster a commitment in young individuals to build pro-social friendships, develop strong interpersonal skills, and reassert a sense of hope for their futures. To accomplish this goal, our youth must be in caring and inclusive learning environments that promote their best efforts and reinforce personal respect.
Our Mission
We believe that there is greatness in every young person. It just needs to be uncovered, activated, and harnessed. To accomplish this goal, young people must be in caring, inclusive learning environments that promote their best efforts and reinforce personal respect.
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The SET's programs are in direct response to the growing number of individuals that have either fallen through the cracks at school or are already entangled with the juvenile court system. The goal of the program is to identify those who are expected to have a turbulent transition to adulthood and offer a positive support system to avoid the pitfalls that can derail their lives. The focus is slightly different at each level, but the goal remains the same; to empower everyone to make positive changes in his or her life.
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The SET will focus on youth, ages 12-17 years old. According to the Pew Research Center (2016), this age group faces substantial life challenges that contribute to anxiety and depression, bullying and cyberbullying, drug and alcohol use and/or abuse, gang affiliation, poverty, and teen pregnancy.
Since suicides have become the second causing leading death of death in our communities, The SET will seek to pair youth with mentors for a period of one year or more. During that time, the youth will participate in weekly planned activities to strengthen their relationship with self and with others.
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Research has shown that self-awareness is the bedrock in which to build confidence in oneself, as it helps to separate the authentic self from a false notion or reality. When youth can view themselves from an authentic place, they can improve their self-confidence. Over time, The SET will expand a learning environment that will provide invaluable resources to the youth, aspiring mentors, and the community at large.