Find Your Anchor (FYA) is a grassroots movement aimed at suicide prevention, awareness, and education. With creativity and a personal touch, we aim to support those who may be struggling and de-stigmatize conversations surrounding suicide and mental health.
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We are fueled by our desire to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide and believe in the power of creativity, small acts of kindness, and community to affect change.
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email -- findyouranchor@gmail.com
instagram -- @findyouranchorbox
facebook -- facebook.com/findyouranchor
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Find Your Anchor is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization registered in Chicago + Southern California.
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First things first, what is Find Your Anchor?
(Check out our infographic)
Mission: Simply put, the goal of the Find Your Anchor movement is suicide prevention, awareness, and education.
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The premise behind Find Your Anchor is that each person needs an anchor. "Establish an anchor — a dependable, stable, secure base that you can hold on to, one that keeps you firmly planted, no matter what winds or storms may come."
Find Your Anchor doesn't assume to be the anchor, or have all the answers, rather, it sets out to create a community of anchors, all with the help of some little blue boxes.
The physical form of Find Your Anchor is a small blue box packed with various materials designed to inspire, soothe and offer support. Each box includes items such as a 52+ Reasons to Live deck of cards, an infographic on depression, list of resources, a letter from a stranger who cares, posters, a bracelet, a mixtape full of uplifting music, stickers, some other sweet nothings, and a whole lot of good vibes.
These boxes enter the world in a variety of ways. They are launched in public spaces (the library, coffeeshops, etc.) to be found by those in need; specifically those close to suicide in one way or another. They can also be requested by someone personally struggling, or someone who knows someone struggling. Lastly, we partner with schools, nonprofits, corporations, etc. who launch large amounts of boxes into their local communities.
By raising awareness and through education, this movement seeks to create and connect a community who will share in the responsibility and burden of suicide - ultimately seeking to prevent it.
You may have some questions…
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But, wait, what exactly is in a Find Your Anchor box?
The physical form of Find Your Anchor is a small blue box filled with all kinds of goodness; cards, posters, phone numbers and more. We’d love to tell you what the more is, but we don’t know ….that’s where you come in. These boxes have and are being launched throughout the country. You may see one in a library, on the subway, or even outside the zoo. The idea is that those in need should pick up the box and use it and once they are in a better spot, they should add to it and pass it on.
So, who are the ones in need?
That part isn’t up to us, that is up to those who find a box. If it seems like something they need, at that point in their lives…it’s all theirs; if not, they are asked to leave it for someone who is in need. But, we imagine those in need to be anyone who has been or is impacted by suicide; either because it is a thought which has crossed their mind, or because they are close to someone who has turned to suicide, or even thoughts of suicide.
How did it get started?
Find Your Anchor was created in direct response to so many mental health organizations being sterile, corporate, and cold. In her darkest moments, FYA founder Ali Borowsky didn’t want a white hospital brochure with a number to call. She wanted connection. She wanted to be seen.
For those contemplating suicide, there is an overwhelming sense of loneliness, abandonment, despair, and hopelessness. Ali’s core belief in the height of her darkness was that no one would care. She couldn’t feel the love and support she was surrounded by and didn’t think anyone would even notice if she were gone. So when creating Find Your Anchor, she thought that if she could create something that showed you that a stranger cares about you, then maybe it wouldn’t be so hard to believe that your friends and family do as well.
She wanted the Find Your Anchor boxes to feel like a gift from a friend.
This idea of helping people you may never even meet has turned into thousands of Find Your Anchor boxes launched into the world for people struggling. Each box is made by hand by people dedicating their time to spreading a little more love into the world. They’re packed with support, inspiration, and anchors. Each box is a tangible resource designed to be carried, explored, shared, and relaunched; because in a digital age, we benefit from having something to hold onto - both literally and figuratively.
Is suicide really a serious problem in our country?
Yes. In 2022, we lost 45,979 people to suicide.
There were a staggering 1.2 million attempts.
That is too many.
We believe that there is help, there is hope, and there is an alternative. We don’t claim to have all the answers, knowing that it is unique for each person, but Find Your Anchor is one small piece in a sea of positive and safe alternatives. Although there's no guaranteed means of prevention, we know that support is crucial, connection matters, and that the more help and resources the better. Each person needs an anchor.
Some statistics:
- Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death for Americans. 1
- Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for Americans age 15-24. 2
- Males die by suicide four times as often as females, but there are three female attempts for every male attempt. 1
1 AAS Facts about Suicide and Depression
2 CDC Suicide Fact Sheet
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// Honors & Awards
- 2023 Graphic Design USA - Health + Wellness Design Award Winner (FYA)
- 2023 Anthem Award Winner - Bronze (Find Your Anchor GIPHY Channel)
- 2022 Los Angeles Times Orange County Visionaries
- 2022 Graphic Design USA - Responsible Designers to Watch
- 2021 Graphic Design USA - American Graphic Design Award Winner (Please Stay)
- 2021 Mental Health America + IDONTMIND Speaker
- 2021 City of Mission Viejo - Keynote Speaker
- 2021 Hope Means Nevada Speaker
- 2020 320 Festival Speaker
- OCCF 2020 Social Innovation Fund Recipient
- 2020 Mental Health Grant Recipient - QC4QR
- 2018 Graphic Design USA - Package Design Award Winner (FYA)
- Speaker - 2018 American Association of Suicidology Conference
- 2018 Songs That Saved My Life Grant Recipient - Hopeless Records (check out the video!)
- Commencement Speaker - 2018 Art Institute of Chicago
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