Generation S.O.S. is a nonprofit organization that brings critically important peer-to-peer mental health support to teens and young adults at middle schools, high schools, colleges, places of worship, and community organizations nationwide.
What do you think of when you hear that I'm an alcoholic?
I wish I had a Generation S.O.S. that came to my school.
I had a million excuses why I overdid it that time.
Everyone was looking to blackout.
Today I journal, I read books, I pray to God alot.
Know there is always help.
We had one thing in common — we all knew someone who was struggling with addiction and overdosed. We were terrified we could be next.
Generation S.O.S. was born several years ago in New York City. Six high school students died of accidental overdoses within a few weeks. The schools’ lack of response was shocking, a sad example of the shame and stigma surrounding addiction and overdose.
A group of high school students met to talk honestly about the drug epidemic that was devastating their world. They urgently needed help navigating this crisis. Society had failed them, so they turned to each other and started the conversation.
I found Generation S.O.S. through a friend and wished it existed when I was younger. It might have spared me the years of pain and suffering.
Generation S.O.S. invites a young adult speaker to share his or her addiction and recovery story at our meetings. Their stories are raw; their anxiety and loneliness familiar. Substance misuse has damaged everything in this young life. Yet, each speaker’s story is one of courage and hope.
Their message is simple and powerful: “We all feel anxious and isolated from time-to-time. Talk to a friend, get help if you’re struggling. But don’t make the same mistake I did.”
Mental health challenges in children, adolescents, and young adults are real, and they are widespread. But most importantly, they are treatable, and often preventable.
– Former U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy
Every year in America, more than five million teens and young adults are diagnosed with a serious mental health challenge. More than 200,000 die from drug overdoses and suicide. Our children desperately need to talk about their mental well-being and learn how to navigate their stress and isolation.
Generation S.O.S.’s highly acclaimed prevention program creates a safe space for teens to connect for an honest, peer-to-peer conversation about mental health, the deadly risks of substance misuse, the importance of learning coping skills, and how to make life-saving choices. Our program is impactful, scalable, and cost-effective.
Please help us help more teens today.
We are deeply committed to cost-effective and lifesaving work — we can reach a student in person with our message of hope and help for just $10. That commitment has resulted in the highest achievement from independent nonprofit rating associations — an achievement less than 1% of all nonprofits accomplish.
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payable to:
Generation S.O.S.
PO Box 780057
Maspeth, NY 11378
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If you would like to contact us directly, please email: info@GenerationSOS.org
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Generation S.O.S. is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.
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Generation S.O.S. is proud to be the recipient of the Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency and Charity Navigator’s 4-star, 100% rating – leading symbols of non-profit transparency and accountability.
