News
September 12, 2007
Mississippi-Based Teen Program Answer to CDC Recommendation for Greater Emphasis Placed on Prevention Programs to Decrease Rising Suicide Rate
(RIDGELAND, Miss.,) September 12, 2007 – Mississippi-based DRIVE (Dare to Realize your Incredible Value and Excellence) program is the answer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recent recommendation for a greater emphasis placed on prevention programs and activities provided for teens to help decrease the alarming rise in teenage suicide.
According to the recently released CDC report revealing suicide trends among youth and young adults from 1990-2004:
From 2003-2004, the rate of teenage suicides increased by eight percent, which is the largest single-year increase for the study. Specifically within three age groups, females, ages 10-14; females, ages 15-19; and males, ages 15-19 saw the greatest increase in suicide. However, within the report, the CDC recommends focusing on suicide-prevention activities with these age groups to help prevent suicide rates from further increasing.
Helping teens in not only Mississippi, but across the nation understand their individual value and self-worth, is the DRIVE program. Designed for youth and young adults ages 13-19, DRIVE takes a real life approach to reaching goals and building self-esteem. “I’ve noticed that, unfortunately, so few youth and young adults truly believe in the abilities and talents they’ve been given. As a survival tool many spend their days knocking each other down instead of building each other up. When a person hears criticism day in and day out, they begin to believe those harmful messages,” said JeanAnn Bull, creator of the DRIVE program and motivational speaker. “However, for most, deep down they want to succeed in life. But, many don’t know where to begin. They haven’t been given the practical tools needed to achieve their individual goals, which is why, unfortunately, so many teens resort to suicide as a solution.”
Bull explained that her motivational message and program teaches teens, step-by-step, how to achieve the goals they’ve set for themselves. In fact, she compares this program to the various classes students take in school.
“Whether it’s math, language, spelling or any subject, for that matter, there are courses designed to teach students the building-blocks of how to succeed in a particular subject. Just like those subjects I listed, that start with a foundation and build on the basics, I teach youth and young adults the fundamentals of how to effectively reach their goals through 10 easy to apply keys, which will begin to build their individual self-esteem,” said Bull.
She added that she believes her DRIVE program teaches youth and young adults – regardless of their situation, circumstances or limitations in life - how to achieve their dreams and goals.
With nearly a decade of public speaking experience, to those of all ages, Bull truly captivates audiences with her fun, inspiring, motivating and entertaining style of delivery.
For more information about the DRIVE program, visit www.nobullmedia.net.
No Bull Media Group, LLC is a privately owned speaking agency located in
Ridgeland, Mississippi.
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