The Gray Matters began with a mental health campaign at Augustana College in 2018 led by Haley DeGreve and Kevin Donovan. The two set out to make a statement: mental health is important, and they need to see change. Today, they are a mental health awareness and suicide prevention movement. An official 501©3 incorporated nonprofit. Most importantly, they are a collective.
Their main mission is pushing mental health to the forefront of public conversation and policy to instill hope.
They aim to empower people to become mental health advocates and save lives. By educating, building community, and bringing mental health awareness to anyone and everyone who needs it, they are working to create a world without suicide. Because every person matters.
Although their first program started at Augustana College, they have since grown their collective with chapters in local high schools, colleges, workplaces, etc. To see the full list of chapters, visit the link: https://thegraymatterscollective.com/chapters
We had the privilege of joining their annual, Suicide Prevention Event this past winter, and were moved by their impact in our community and the lives they have touched & saved with their collective. A moving event, that left no one with a dry eye.
Facts on Mental Health
- About 1 in 25 U.S. adults lives with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression. ((Center for Disease Control and Prevention))
- Over 1 in 5 youth (ages 13-18) either currently or at some point during their life, have had a seriously debilitating mental illness. (Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-14 (NAMI)
- Among people in the U.S. aged 18-44, psychosis spectrum and mood disorders account for 600,000 hospitalizations each year
- 19.7% of U.S. Veterans experienced a mental illness in 2020 (3.9 million people)
- Across the U.S. economy, serious mental illness causes $193.2 billion in lost earnings each year
- Iowa is the worst state in the US for psychiatric beds: The state had 64 state-managed in-patient beds to treat adults in 2023 — just two beds per 100,000 residents — ranking Iowa 51st on the list of 50 states and the District of Columbia, the report states.
- More than 1 in 5 US adults live with a mental illness.
Ways YOU Can Make a Difference:
- Become involved in a chapter or start your very own at your school/business
- Donate via the link, https://thegraymatterscollective.com/get-involved
- Continue to make mental health a normal part of every day conversation. End the negative stigma associated with mental health by using your voice & empowering others to do the same.
- Enact change in your community, city, state
- Shop at Necker’s during the month of October as a portion of sales will go to The Gray Matter’s Collective
- Share this article!
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