The Makarios Project

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

-Mahatma Gandhi

Our goal is to support young people in developing and maintaining overall health and well-being.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people ages 10-14 & 25-34. It is the third leading cause of death in those between the ages of 15-24 (NIMH). There are nearly twice as many suicides each year than there are homicides in the United States. Half of all mental health disorders begin by the age of 14 and three fourths are diagnosable in the mid-twenties (The National Council for Behavioral Health). In the U.S., families routinely ensure their child’s physical well-being through pediatric and dental visits. However, the mental health and well-being of our children often goes unaddressed or unnoticed until a crisis or trauma arises. At The Makarios Project we believe that mental health care should be viewed and utilized as preventative care rather than exclusively prescriptive.

The Makarios Project focuses on four goals.

  • We support young people in developing skills that will support their ability to preserve and maintain their mental health and well-being.

  • We educate adults in recognizing and supporting young people who may be experiencing a mental health challenge.

  • We aim to increase early intervention and prevention among youth.

  • We aim to normalize mental health and bridge the gap from identifying a need to accessing mental health resources within the state of Colorado.

Take Action

Why take action? 1 in 5 youth experience a mental health challenge. 17.1 million youth under 18 years of age have had or currently have a psychiatric disorder. 7.4% of young people across the United States have a mental health visit in a given year (National Council for Behavioral Health).

Ready to take the next step? You can become a contributor to our cause, or bring Youth Mental Health First Aid Training to your organization.