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To Write Love On Her Arms

To Write Love On Her Arms

September 10 to 17 is considered To Write Love on Her Arms  (TWLOHA) week, but some observe it on November 13. Jamie Tworkowski founded the American non-profit support organization, To Write Love on Her Arms in March 2006. He conceived the idea of a support group for people suffering from addiction, depression, self-injury, and suicidal ideation after a closed, direct, and personal experience and involvement with a person, then 19-year-old Renee Yohe, suffering from addiction, depression, and self-mutilation. Brought to a treatment center after loading her system with cocaine, marijuana, pills, and alcohol and carving the word, ‘Fuck Up’, on her arms, the nurse refused to admit her, saying she’s too great a risk. In February 2006 he wrote about Renee’s five-day struggle before entering rehabilitation.

Addiction, Depression, Self-Mutilation, and Suicide

Addiction, substance or behavior, is a psychological chronic disease characterized by the person seeking reward an/or relief from substance use and behavior despite its harmful consequences and effects on the overall well-being of the person. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders has 12 classifications of substance dependence. Compulsions a person engages in despite resulting to his or her harm are considered behavioral addictions, such as compulsive sex, gambling, eating, watching pornography, shopping, and working.

Major Depressive Disorder, also known as Recurrent Depressive Disorder, Clinical Depression, Major Depression, Unipolar
Depression, or Unipolar Disorder, is a mental disorder wherein the person experiences a pervading low mood, low-self-esteem, and lack of interest or pleasure from activities previously enjoyed. According to the World Health Organization, 121 million of the global population suffers from depression, 18 million of which is in America. Two/thirds of people suffering from depression do not seek treatment. The National Institute of Mental Health cites untreated depression as the leading cause of death among teenagers.

Self-mutilation, or Deliberate Self-Harm/Self Harm is the intentional injuring of body tissues by cutting, burning, picking
or interfering with wound healing, punching or hitting self or objects, inserting objects into skin, bruising or breaking
bones, infecting oneself, and poisoning without intent of killing oneself. Self-harm may be a person’s way of coping thru
emotional discomfort or pain, seeking attention, or escaping or dissociating from responsibilities. Although it is not
attempted suicide, self-harm can be life threatening.

Suicide is estimated by the World Health Organization to be the thirteenth worldwide leading cause of death, especially
among teenagers and adults under 35. More than one million people kill themselves annually while ten to twenty million
people attempt suicide. Suicide is usually a desperate measure by individuals who cannot cope with their problems. It is
also associated with the mental disorders, depression, alcoholism, substance abuse, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.

To Write Love on Her Arms

To Write Love on Her Arms is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, based in Cocoa, Florida, which started operating in
October 2006, under Fireproof Ministries. A 501-c organization is an American non-profit association or corporation, which
is not required by the government to pay federal income taxes. To Write Love on Her Arms is specifically classified as a 501 c-3 organization (Religious, Educational, Charitable, Scientific, Literary, Testing for Public Safety, to Foster National or International Amateur Sports Competition, or Prevention of Cruelty to Children or Animals Organizations).

‘Love is the Movement’, ‘Rescue is Possible’, and ‘Stop the Bleeding’ are its motto. Since 2006 it is dedicated to helping people suffering from addiction, depression, self-mutilation, and suicidal ideation. It reaches out to such people, thereby, encouraging them to emerge from self-alienation and isolation and eventually to seek treatment for the underlying affective disorder and its myriad manifestations. It flowered from Jamie Tworkowski’s participation in the treatment of Renee Yohe in 2006. To finance Renee’s drug rehabilitation, he helped sell T-shirts printed with TWLOHA slogans in Orlando and created a MySpace page for the endeavor. The MySpace page received tons of friend requests and messages of thanks, sympathy, and empathy through posts sharing personal problems. TWLOHA has collaborated with Kristin Brooks Hope Center to create the first online crisis counseling thru instant messenger, which is staffed by crisis intervention trained and certified people. TWLOHA has been featured in the ‘Making a Difference’ segment of the NBC Nightly News in September 12, 2008.The CBS Morning News has reported in October 2010 on TWLOHA as a catalyst in preventing ‘The Youngest Suicides’. Musical icons and bands such as Boys Like Girls, OneRepublic, and Joe Foreman of Switchfoot have endorsed and supported TWLOHA.

References:

http://www.twloha.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Write_Love_on_Her_Arms

December 20, 2010 - Posted by riannemadden | Health, New, Society | Addiction, depression, Jamie Tworkowski, Self-Mutilation, Suicidal Ideation, Suicide, To Write Love on Her Arms, TWLOHA Week