Preventing Teen Suicide Playing Loud Enough so You Don't Miss It.
Manny’s Band is closing the gap between “awareness” and “reaction” in youth suicide prevention. We equip families, friends, and communities with real skills and practice so they do not miss the signs of suicide or the opportunity to help before it is too late.
About Manny's Band Foundation
Manny’s Band Foundation was created in memory of Manny Pargman to make suicide prevention a shared, urgent priority for all — because suicide is not someone else’s problem.
We ignite through large scale in person events to move attendees into small group QPR training sessions we call Manny’s Band Practice ® —where circles of friends learn what they are looking for and what to do in order to prevent suicide – and, perhaps most importantly, practice doing it.
Our Song
- Suicide is a leading cause of death among young people.
- Most suicide prevention focuses on “awareness” (bringing knowledge about the existence of a problem) and “resources” (medical, therapeutic, and other measures to assist youth with suicide ideology).
- Both awareness and resources are essential components of suicide prevention.
- However, a bridge between awareness on one side and resources on the other is largely missing.
- The teen suffering suicide idiation too often keeps their pain to themselves and does not seek help.
- When a teen experiences suicidal idiation, it may take a trusted adult or friend to connect the individual in pain to the resources that can potentially save a life.
- Yet the victim’s trusted adults, friends, and other support structures too often “don’t see it” or do not know what to do to help.
- Most potential trusted adults are not paying attention to what may be right in front of them.
- Or even if they detect something unusual, most potential trusted adults have never received training on what they are actually supposed to do.
- They may be “aware of statistics and a national problem out there” but falsely comfort themselves in the erroneous belief that “suicide is not my problem.”
- If you miss it – there is no going back to fix it –
DON’T MISS IT!
Our Approach
Large Scale Events
We produce large scale in person events for the purpose of moving attendees into small group QPR training sessions we call Manny’s Band Practice ® —where circles of friends learn what they are looking for and what to do in oder to prevent suicide – and, perhaps most importantly, practice doing it.
Manny's Band Practice
Awareness of a problem and statistics learned at a talk or concert is important, but not enough. We go beyond mere awareness of the problem. We guide attendees from our large-scale events into small, friendship-based QPR training sessions in people’s homes, where a circle of friends learns new skills and practices together.
Replication
Each Manny's Band Practice ends with an ask for two participants to play it forward and host the next practice session - and so on - exponentially growing the number of skilled and practiced trusted adults and friends until a tipping point is reached within a community - eradicating the stigma and changing the dialogue regarding suicide and mental health within a community.
What Instrument Can You Play?
Every person has a role. Volunteer your skills, talents, and passion to help us grow The Band.
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Sponsor an Event or Request a Speaker
Help us bring Manny’s Band to more communities, campuses, and conversations.
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