Gabriel's Light Foundation

Overview

Gabriel's Light Foundation is a U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing youth suicide through education, advocacy, and community engagement. Founded in honor of a child who died by suicide at the age of 12, the foundation aims to transform awareness into empowering action.

Mission

The primary mission of Gabriel's Light is to prevent youth suicide by providing mental health education and promoting kindness and cyber safety. They believe that prevention is possible and focus on empowering young people to identify, understand, and respond to mental health challenges in their peers.

Programs

• Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA): This program trains teens to work with certified instructors to learn about identifying and responding to signs of mental health struggles among their friends and peers.
• Youth Ambassador Program: Designed for tweens and teens, this program offers opportunities to earn volunteer hours while learning important skills such as hosting fundraisers, using social media, and practicing self-care. Participants contribute to peer-to-peer communication as a powerful tool for suicide prevention.
• School & Youth Presentations: The foundation offers presentations on understanding mental health, bullying prevention, and the importance of kindness. These sessions can be tailored for schools, clubs, or any youth group.
• Cyber Safety Education: Gabriel's Light provides resources and tips to help parents ensure their children's safety in the digital world. Through webinars, social media, and blog posts, they drive awareness and offer practical guides for implementing cyber safety at home.
• Free Mental Health Programming: The organization offers free programming, support, and resources to underserved youth, aiming to reach those who might otherwise lack access to these vital resources.

Resources and Partnerships

Gabriel's Light creates and shares free resources for parents and youth, including guides and materials on kindness campaigns. They provide access to a curated list of suicide prevention resources and encourage collaboration with like-minded organizations to maximize their impact.

History

Founded in 2019 by Carol and Brendan Deely, the foundation was established in memory of their son, who lost his life to suicide. Since its inception, Gabriel's Light has been committed to sharing their story to inspire action against youth suicide. Their work includes outreach, programs, and partnerships that focus on education, cyber safety, and promoting kindness over bullying.

[1] https://www.gabrielslight.org [2] https://www.gabrielslight.org/what-we-do [3] https://www.gabrielslight.org/suicide-prevention-education [4] https://www.gabrielslight.org/our-story [5] https://www.guidestar.org/profile/84-5194465