Exploring the Encourage Me I’m Young ‘Smash Suicide Campaign’ with Calvin T. Mann

The biggest question for me in reading this backstory was what in the world would make a five year old child contemplate or actually commit the act of suicide. I was blown away by the statistics and was so happy to have access to someone who could explain what’s going on and what’s being done to fight against suicide by children. Enter Calvin T. Mann…

Calvin T. Mann (Facebook)

Calvin T. Mann, National Encourager, is President and Founder of Good Fathers Only and EMIY Inc. He is a BMe Community Vanguard Fellow. Visit the website at www.EMIYworld.com or email [email protected].

Mann is also the creator of an op-ed entitled SOUND the ALARM: Boys and Suicide which addresses the rise in suicide in children and provides answers on how to address the horrific subject of children giving up hope and manifesting it in with a finality that destroys families and communities.

Quoting from the op-ed by Mann, “The suicide death rate among Black youth has been found to be increasing faster than that of any other racial/ethnic group,” according to Ring the Alarm: The Crisis of Black Youth Suicide in America, a recent Congressional Black Caucus emergency task force report. “In youth ages 10 to 19 years, suicide is the second leading cause of death, and in 2017, over 3,000 youth died by suicide in this age group. Black youth under 13 years are twice as likely to die by suicide and when comparing by sex, Black males, 5 to 11 years, are more likely to die by suicide compared to their White peers.”

Mann’s organization Encourage Me I’m Young (EMIY) has begun a #SmashSuicide Campaign, a very important movement to mentor and protect at risk youth in a specific age demographic to provide visions outside of and solutions to the often overwhelming situations which might lead to suicide.

The Hype Magazine got Calvin Mann to weigh in on a few things

From the outside looking in tell us about the Encourage Me I’m Young organization:

Encourage Me I’m Young (EMIY) Inc., is a solution-based movement toward the restoraton of families and communities through awareness, advocacy and action. Our intervention and prevention strategies include seeding the lives of boys using practical solution that engage, encourage and empower a platform of trust within our stakeholders, sponsors, collaborators and partners to implement and support the change we want to see in our world.

What was the defining moment that brought the founders to bring this to fruition?

In the fall of 2006, a discouraged parent who engaged her son in mentorship by Calvin T. Mann (in the EMIY Way Process), saw the amazing results that empowered her son’s change and believed that other boys could benefit. In early 2007, she gifted Calvin T. Mann, with Encourage Me I’m Young, Inc. as a 501c3 non-profit organization.

Tell us about the Smash Suicide Campaign led by EMIY

EMIY’s #Smash Suicide Campaign is prompted by need for new voices that are speaking for the silent cries of boys starting at age 5 who are both contemplating (Suicidal Ideation) and completing the finality of suicide. Many of us are in disbelief that this is even a problem in boys this young at all. We have often turned a blind eye and we fail them by our disbelief and inaction. Black boys starting at age 5 complete the finality of suicide more than any other race but all boys of all races are at high risk! There are lots of reasons why this occurs in our boys but one strategy that works in prevention is ENCOURAGEMENT. EMIY’s focus is on solutions; what we can do now! We would like to share the “EMIY Way” to prevention as we encourage others to join the movement and use our strategies to SMASH Suicide!

Together we are stronger! Just like individual fibers make up the elements to the strongest rope (used to secure and bind) and so it is by our joining together for this purpose! Everyone knows someone; even a child, who can use encouragement; a kind word, a show of care, a demonstration of their value and importance. Our positive messaging apparel; shirts, hats and socks are more than a brand; it is a solution. When you give the positive message on our t-shirts it comes with a smile, a kind word, a show of care and a demonstration of value and importance. The same information is mirrored back when they see others wearing the brand and positive messaging. The wearer immediately experiences a sense of belonging to a group of people who care! Visit EMIYWorld.com and sign up!

When did this become such a problem for our black and brown youth?

There are very few voices that are speaking for the silent cries of boys starting at age 5 who are both contemplating (Suicidal Ideation) and completing the finality of suicide. Many of us are in disbelief that this is even a problem in boys this young at all. We turn a blind eye and we fail them by our disbelief and inaction. Black boys starting at age 5 complete the finality of suicide more than any other race but all boys of all races are at high risk!

How is EMIY helping to fight this trend?

There is an unrecognized urgency that TEAM EMIY has recognized. We have taken the initiative to increase awareness, provide tools to save our boys now so that they have a future of resiliency to prevent suicidal ideation. There are lots of reasons why suicide in boys this occurs in our boys but one strategy that works in prevention is ENCOURAGEMENT. We must replace suicidal ideation with a positive identity and affirmation through encouragement. EMIY’s focus is on solutions; what we can do now! We would like to share the “EMIY Way” to prevention as we encourage others to join the movement and use our strategies to SMASH Suicide!

What other programs do you have that impact not only your local community but the national landscape?

EMIY Inc. 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of families through seeding the lives of boys. There are 3 campaigns that other communities across the nation could benefit. 1) EMIY Hubs could be hosted in community organization with gym recreation facilities or an EMIY Empowerment Center host EMIY Future Leaders (EFL) program. EFL mentorship program supports boys 8-14 years old (our most vulnerable population of boys) by providing safe spaces for boys to gather to learn, grow, and become the future leaders of tomorrow. Boys impacted by EMIY have a sphere of influence that increases the number of boys that benefit from the growth of just one EMIY Future Leader! His Impact is between 5-25 boys per session. 2) EMIY National Respect Day; 3) EMIY 10-year strategy: 10 Cities of Promise, 10,000 boys, $10 Mil.

Where can our readers find out more and how can they help?

Readers can learn more about EMIY at www.emiyworld.com or watch our video history at EMIY TV on Youtube.

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Tags: #SmashSuicide, Calvin T. Mann, child suicide, EMIY, Encourage Me I'm Young, family, mental health, suicide

About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.