Thoughts on SEL-ARTS from The Experts
Kathy Hoffman, Superintendent of Public Instruction,
AZ Department of Education
Dr. Helen Easterling-Williams, Dean of Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology
UBU SEL-ARTS: How It Works
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The True Story that inspired UBU SEL-ARTS Residencies
Notes from UBU Project Founder, Executive Director, and Teaching Artist David Simmons:
In addition to being an honors graduate of the University of Montana School of Music with additional study in Vienna Austria, I am a thriving survivor of my own suicide attempt, a grateful recovering alcoholic with over 29 years sober and I was the big kid who got bullied in school and continued to bully myself well into adulthood. You see...
On March 31, 2009 I attempted to take my own life. This was not a cry for help. This was my violent, final attempt to end myself. Had I not been found and saved when I was, I would not be alive right now. After seven and a half weeks on a locked psyche ward I was discharged with the following diagnosis; Major Depressive Disorder Recurrent. It was discovered that I had been living with this mental illness for over 40 years and it had never been properly discussed, diagnosed or treated. However, my recovery has been so remarkable that when I tell this story it’s as if I’m talking about a book I once read written by someone else about a completely different person. I have learned the difference between living with mental illness, and thriving with managed mental illness.
Rather than continue to morn and grieve the nearly life-ending events of March 31, 2009, it has been dubbed and celebrated as: LIFE DAY. The Day I Got a 2nd Chance at Life! I have not wasted this gift...
I then began a personal campaign to shine a light in the societal darkness of mental illness and its much-needed diagnosis and treatment. To normalize the conversation. Then recently I was deeply moved by the following statistics:
- The leading cause of death for children ages 10 - 14 in Arizona is Suicide
- The 3rd leading cause of death for youth ages 10 - 24 nationwide is suicide as well
- Over a recent ten year period there were over 1,300 reported suicides in children ages 5-14.
- Kindergartners are committing suicide
- I personally know a young mother whose 7 year old child attempted suicide twice.
- Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death nationwide
- Nearly 20% of all children and adults in America are diagnosed with some form of mental illness or disorder.
- I recently spoke with a mother whose teen-aged son lived with suicidal depression for over two years because he was ashamed to admit it. Fortunately he found help before he ended his own life. He never gave up.
I am not a mental health care professional or therapist. I am a “wounded healer” working in partnership with mental health care and K-12 education professionals to create opportunities for these young people to be heard, not hurt. To celebrate, not destroy. To learn that it is OK to tell their story, find hope and share it with the world.
In addition to my experience as a thriving survivor of my own suicide attempts, I am a grateful recovering alcoholic (29 years) and also experienced my fair share of bullying as a public school student. These experiences, in addition to decades of work in classrooms and performance venues, give me a unique perspective in leading The UBU Project's SEL-Arts residencies where students are encouraged to:
"Find Your Voice. Tell Your Story. Share Your Hope."
"The UBU Project's suicide prevention program is much more than a suicide prevention program. It is a celebration of life!" -High School Student
"I got things to do
I ain't even half way through
Step aside, gimme room to move
Take a ride and lose your blues
Cause I ain't done yet (I ain't done yet)
I ain't done yet (I ain't done yet)
Don't you worry, and don't you fret
Cause I ain't done yet!"
From I Ain't Done Yet, music and lyrics by David Simmons (on the UBU Records CD: HOPE)
To hear the entire song please scroll down and click the video link