This year, AIM Youth Mental Health celebrated our 10th annual Gala!
Each year, we throw a Gala to raise awareness and funds for youth mental health research and support. Held at The Inn at Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach, we brought together philanthropists, mental health advocates, and community members dedicated to improving the mental wellness of children, teens, and young adults. It was a night to remember marked by moving stories and inspiring performances.
Chris Harrison and his wife, Lauren Zima, brought their charm and warmth as hosts of our unforgettable night.
While Chris’s two-decade run as the host of ABC’s beloved Bachelor franchise, along with its spinoffs, and his hit podcast “The Most Dramatic Podcast Ever” and Lauren’s four Emmy awards from her time at Entertainment Tonight is impressive, it’s their dedication to AIM and youth mental health that truly stands out. This year marked Chris’s fourth Gala and Lauren’s second, both generously donating their time to support our cause.
This year’s Gala emphasized our mission of bridging the gap between mental health research and access to care, as well as our commitment to developing evidence-based treatments for youth.
We debuted a new mission testimonial, highlighting how youth survey results from the AIM Ideas Lab have informed new AIM programming, and shared how each and every one of us could help save a life by being educated in Youth Mental Health First Aid.
We were honored to have bestselling author, storyteller, and mental health advocate Kevin Hines as our keynote speaker. Kevin’s deeply inspiring story of survival after his suicide attempt in 2000 touched the hearts of Gala guests and helped launch AIM’s Youth Suicide Prevention Fund.
A 2023 CDC report revealed that 22% of high school students seriously considered suicide in the past year. In response to this crisis, the fund will support critical research, like the work of AIM-funded researcher Dr. Benjamin Johnson, who is exploring smartphone applications to predict and intervene in real-time suicide risk among college students.
In addition to advancing research, the fund will also support AIM’s community education initiatives to help recognize warning signs and provide support for youth who may be struggling.
Of our total donations that night, $275,000 was raised directly for our Suicide Prevention Fund!
Dr. Shashank Joshi, from our AIM Scientific Advisory Board, spoke about his research in youth suicide prevention at Stanford. His scholarly work focuses on school mental health, particularly suicide prevention in school settings, as well as cultural aspects of pediatric health, doctor-parent-teacher collaboration in medical care, and wellbeing promotion in youth and youth adults.
Dr. Joshi highlighted how critical resources like Mental Health First Aid are in equipping people with the skills to recognize someone in crisis and know the right words and actions to take to support them.
Both Dr. Joshi and Kevin Hines agreed that access to care is not enough. From a research and personal account, they implored us to take seriously the urgent need for research and how that will transform the care of the future.
With over 200 attendees, the Gala successfully raised $650,000 to further AIM’s initiatives, including empowering youth to discover their own mental health solutions and training adults to provide a safe space for those in crisis.
The evening not only celebrated the achievements of the organization but also laid the groundwork for future advancements in youth mental health research and care.
We’re so grateful to the community who showed up and contributed to making our programming possible!
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About the Author
Meadowlark Monaghan (she/hers) is a consultant using her knowledge gained as a mental health professional to act as a liaison between brands, creators, + online communities with the field of psychology and mental health. She also co-hosts the personal development podcast, Thoughts May Vary. Her work has been seen with Madhappy, Local Optimist, The Mayfair Group, Lonely Ghost, AIM Youth Mental Health, NAMI San Diego and more.
