To Write Love on Her Arms
To Write Love on Her Arms came about in Orlando in 2006. A person trying to get accepted into drug treatment was turned down, and the friends who offered support at that time created the movement. It is a campaign of hope, love, recovery and support, and has thousands of fans on Facebook. The purpose? To show that recovery is possible.
To Write Love on Her Arms focuses on the issue of youth suicide, and also on self harming behaviors among teens and young adults. One such self harm behavior is known as cutting. Cutting is a common coping mechanism used by some adolescents and young adults. The number of young people that have used this coping mechanism is stated as anywhere from 4 to 38 percent of young people. For those who have engaged in this behavior, many of them state that when they cut into their skin with a sharp object, a feeling of release and relief occurs. This release can be of feelings, such as depression, that they have been experiencing.
Cutting behaviors are a dirty little secret, however. Because of the fact that many individuals who engage in it hide this behavior, and cut themselves where it cannot be easily seen, it is often unknown by those closest to them. In 2009, to honor those that are affected by this, To Write Love on Her Arms asked their supporters on Facebook, to write "To Write Love on Her Arms" on their own arms, and to send the photos into the Facebook page. The purpose was to raise awareness of this issue. The response was overwhelming.
However, there is hope. By talking about it, offering support, and raising the awareness of this behavior, and what leads many young people to choose it, we can help to expose it, and offer alternatives to those who are suffering. Together, we can make a difference to those who need it.
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