OUR VISION
The Zac Yeggy Foundation is a grass roots movement to decrease the negative stigma of mental health, advocate on behalf of those with mental health issues, educate the general population through innovative trainings and partnering with local community providers and
services to enhance our mission.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to increase empathy and understanding of mental health resulting in a decrease in the number of suicides in Iowa and nationally.
Fighting Mental Health Stigma Through Awareness, Advocacy and Education
Mental illness is a serious yet largely misunderstood topic. Did you know that in America alone, almost 18% (1 out of 5) of adults have a mental health condition? In Iowa, 600,000 individuals live with mental illness, which is 19% of the population.
Moreover, the rates of youth who suffer from depression gets higher and higher each year. Causes include the negative stigma surrounding mental illness, lack of access to treatment as well as lack of education on mental health. Per Health and Human Services, 30% (20% male and 40% female) of those age 12 to 17 self-reported experiencing depression and feelings of hopelessness within a twelve-month period of time.
Within that twelve-month period,18% (12% male and 23% female) seriously contemplated committing suicide in Iowa (per the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention 2018 www.afsp.org)
Iowa Statistics
Iowa Statistics
• For those aged 10-24, SUICIDE is the SECOND leading cause of DEATH.
• For those aged 25-34, SUICIDE is the SECOND leading cause of DEATH.
• For those aged 35-44, SUICIDE is the FOURTH leading cause of DEATH.
• For those aged 55-64 and 65+ SUICIDE is the NINETH and EIGHTEENTH, respectively, the leading cause of DEATH.
Per the CDC:
Among adolescents, mental health, substance use, and suicide are concerns. Data obtained directly from youth can tell us more about the scope of these problems.
Among US adolescents ages 12–17 in 2021-2022:
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21% reported symptoms of anxiety in the past two weeks.
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17% reported symptoms of depression in the past two weeks.
Among US high school students in 2023:
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40% reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year.
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20% reported seriously considering attempting suicide in the past year.
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16% reported making a suicide plan in the past year.
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9% reporting attempting suicide in the past year.
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22% report drinking alcohol in the past 30 days.
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17% report using marijuana in the past 30 days.
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4% report misusing prescription pain medication in the past 30 days.
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10% report ever using illicit drugs.
NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION
HOTLINE - 988
Help is available 24/7
Zac Yeggy Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not for profit, in Iowa is committed to discovering innovative programs to fight mental health stigma. The stigma causes denial of illness, delays in accessing treatment and frequently prohibits active participation in treatment services.
Zac Yeggy Foundation also promotes mental health awareness through speaking engagements—large and small—providing information, education, and the story of Zac Yeggy, who after a six year battle with bipolar disorder took his own life at the age of 26.
We believe that mental health is an issue that concerns us all and impacts a significant portion of the population directly or indirectly. Furthermore, mental wellness is a topic that is as important as staying physically healthy and fit.
We are here to help you stamp out the stigma of mental illness. Contact us today and let us know how we can help you with this battle against stigma.
DEDICATION
We dedicate Zac’s Foundation, not only to Zac and those lost to suicide, but to all those who suffer in silence and fear society’s stigma relating to mental health. Help is available. We also dedicate Zac’s Foundation to those family and fiends who have suffered the loss, you are not alone. The words on Zac’s gravestone are so true:
It broke our hears to lose you, but you did not go alone, for part of us went with you the day God called you home.
JOIN OUR FIGHT
Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem - no parent should bury a child, no one should lose their lives to an illness that is treatable.
#breakthestigma
Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem - no parent should bury a child, no one should lose their lives to an illness that is treatable.
#breakthestigma
Zac's mental illness is such a small part of who he is, as parents we are so proud of the fine young man he became. His kindness, compassion, work ethic, intelligence and common sense makes the loss even more significant as he would do wonderful things in the world we live. We know he wants us to use his struggles with mental illness to help others. I cannot use the word 'was' as he is still here, helping us to help others.
The following link may be disturbing to some, but it is a raw account of the day Zac died. Zac nor anyone should have to suffer and no family member, friend should ever have to go through this but this is the reality of suicide.