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Venkataraman (Left), Emmi (Middle), and Nagpal (Right) at a Suicide Prevention Purple-Out Football Game at Woodforest Bank Stadium
THE WOODLANDS, TX -- Meet The Semicolon Initiative - a student-led non-profit determined to stop teen suicide in The Woodlands and the Greater Houston Area.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is the 11th leading cause of death amongst adults in the United States, but for teens, it is second. After losing multiple friends in high school to the problem, these three teens decided to step up and take action.
The Semicolon Initiative, founded by Vibhan Emmi, Lekisha Nagpal, and Aditi Venkataraman from The Woodlands College Park High School, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and grassroots organization dedicated to raising awareness about suicide prevention and providing mental health support to youth around their community. The organization was launched in May of 2023, after Emmi, Nagpal, and Venkataraman, as freshmen, saw the consequences of suicide in their school. As more students at their school lost their lives due to a lack of proper mental health resources, the founders felt compelled to take action.
The Initiative's core values surround the idea that “Suicide is a problem, not a solution,” intending to spark conversations and provide resources and education around mental health and teen suicide awareness in their local community. By doing so, the founders wish to create a place where every teenager feels seen, heard, and supported.
The Initiative hosts events throughout the year, ranging from fundraisers to workshops to school-based events. Just recently, they hosted an art therapy workshop with another student-led organization, FiberForward, who focus on recycling used clothing to reduce the growing textile waste. Together, they spread their dual message by recycling softly used garments to create murals, providing students with hours of relaxation and destressing time. The initiative has also hosted and helped with events at their school, such as a purple-out themed football game to spread awareness and bring in multiple professionals throughout the year to educate students about the importance of good mental health. Additionally, every year in November, the organization assists with the Run-For-Jeev 5k Memorial Run, bringing in over 400 high school students and helping raise over $65,000 over the years.
Today, the organization continues its efforts to make mental health resources accessible to young adults and other marginalized groups. It maintains a social media presence, primarily on Instagram (@semicoloninitiative), and also has a website at https://www.thesemicoloninitiative.org/ where it continuously shares upcoming events and resources. Started by a shared goal to help their local community, Emmi, Nagpal, and Venkataraman work to build an environment where no teen feels alone in their struggles or without access to support.
A student-led nonprofit from The Woodlands is transforming mental health awareness through community, conversation, and action.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is the 11th leading cause of death amongst adults in the United States, but for teens, it is second. After losing multiple friends in high school to the problem, these three teens decided to step up and take action.
The Semicolon Initiative, founded by Vibhan Emmi, Lekisha Nagpal, and Aditi Venkataraman from The Woodlands College Park High School, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and grassroots organization dedicated to raising awareness about suicide prevention and providing mental health support to youth around their community. The organization was launched in May of 2023, after Emmi, Nagpal, and Venkataraman, as freshmen, saw the consequences of suicide in their school. As more students at their school lost their lives due to a lack of proper mental health resources, the founders felt compelled to take action.
The Initiative's core values surround the idea that “Suicide is a problem, not a solution,” intending to spark conversations and provide resources and education around mental health and teen suicide awareness in their local community. By doing so, the founders wish to create a place where every teenager feels seen, heard, and supported.
The Initiative hosts events throughout the year, ranging from fundraisers to workshops to school-based events. Just recently, they hosted an art therapy workshop with another student-led organization, FiberForward, who focus on recycling used clothing to reduce the growing textile waste. Together, they spread their dual message by recycling softly used garments to create murals, providing students with hours of relaxation and destressing time. The initiative has also hosted and helped with events at their school, such as a purple-out themed football game to spread awareness and bring in multiple professionals throughout the year to educate students about the importance of good mental health. Additionally, every year in November, the organization assists with the Run-For-Jeev 5k Memorial Run, bringing in over 400 high school students and helping raise over $65,000 over the years.
Today, the organization continues its efforts to make mental health resources accessible to young adults and other marginalized groups. It maintains a social media presence, primarily on Instagram (@semicoloninitiative), and also has a website at https://www.thesemicoloninitiative.org/ where it continuously shares upcoming events and resources. Started by a shared goal to help their local community, Emmi, Nagpal, and Venkataraman work to build an environment where no teen feels alone in their struggles or without access to support.
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