Our Mission
The "I Love You Foundation" is dedicated to nurturing the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of our communities, especially our young people, by advancing mental health support, championing self-love and personal development, and advocating for comprehensive, effective strategies to prevent gun violence.
Our vision is a world where everyone recognizes and embraces their intrinsic worth, where mental health is prioritized and destigmatized, where violence no longer threatens our safety and peace, and where our youth are preserved and empowered to reach their full potential.
Through community engagement, strategic partnerships, and advocacy, we are committed to providing resources, education, and support to foster healing, resilience, and positive change. Together, we stand strong in our belief that love for oneself and others can be a powerful catalyst for transformation, creating safer, healthier, and more compassionate communities for all.
Because we believe in the power of "I Love You" – for ourselves, our families, our neighbors, and our shared future.
ABOUT US
Our staff & volunteers
The I Love You Foundation was founded to help raise awareness to the conditions associated with Mental Health Issues. Bringing together a variety of qualified and talented individuals helps #breakthroughthestigma and increases education to help those we know who are suffering from a silent debilitating condition that does not discriminate age, sex, race, or religion.
To help combat this silent threat there can be strength found in numbers, strength in knowing that you are not going through this alone any longer.
Here together we can #breakthroughthestigma that has been associated with an illness that has been misunderstood for far too long. As a non-profit charitable organization, the Foundation is looking to help fund the programs, workshops, lectures and public awareness initiatives for the almost affected 1 in 4 Americans over 18 that are diagnosed with each year and the countless who are not being treating or have been diagnosed. I LOVE YOU.
Statistics
Having a mental illness can make it challenging to live everyday life and maintain recovery. Let's look at some of the ways mental illness can impact lives—and how the impact can ripple out.
PERSON
- People with depression have a 40% higher risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases than the general population. People with serious mental illness are nearly twice as likely to develop these conditions.
- 32.1% of U.S. adults with mental illness also experienced a substance use disorder in 2020 (17 million individuals)
- The rate of unemployment is higher among U.S. adults who have mental illness (6.4%) compared to those who do not (5.1%)
- High school students with significant symptoms of depression are more than twice as likely to drop out compared to their peers
- Students aged 6-17 with mental, emotional or behavioral concerns are 3x more likely to repeat a grade.
FAMILY
- At least 8.4 million people in the U.S. provide care to an adult with a mental or emotional health issue
- Caregivers of adults with mental or emotional health issues spend an average of 32 hours per week providing unpaid care
COMMUNITY
- Mental illness and substance use disorders are involved in 1 out of every 8 emergency department visits by a U.S. adult (estimated 12 million visits)
- Mood disorders are the most common cause of hospitalization for all people in the U.S. under age 45 (after excluding hospitalization relating to pregnancy and birth)
- Across the U.S. economy, serious mental illness causes $193.2 billion in lost earnings each year
- 20.8% of people experiencing homelessness in the U.S. have a serious mental health condition
- 37% of adults incarcerated in the state and federal prison system have a diagnosed mental illness
- 70% of youth in the juvenile justice system have a diagnosable mental health condition.
- 8.4% of Active Component service members in the U.S. military experienced a mental health or substance use condition in 2019.
- 15.3% of U.S. Veterans experienced a mental illness in 2019 (31.3 million people).
WORLD
- Depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy $1 trillion in lost productivity each year
- Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide
ilyfoundation.org
