Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Kim.
Hi Matthew, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
The Youth Stability and Support Alliance (YSSA) was first founded to honor one of our classmates who fell victim to suicidality and took their own life. In the beginning, we didn’t know how to create or galvanize an impact until we started researching the interventions that have the most efficacy and availability for adolescents. Thus, the creation of our distraction kits: pencil cases filled with sour candy, fidget toys, notebooks, scented stickers, and red pens. These items were intentionally chosen to engage the five senses and provide a brief distraction from overwhelming emotions. With this breakthrough, we began reaching out to local libraries across Bergen County to host workshops where participants assembled distraction kits while learning about adolescent suicidality and mental health through informational presentations. From there, our mission expanded through collaborations with suicide loss survivors, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the endurANT movement, and partner chapters across the United States. YSSA also developed a research team that created a manual outlining warning signs of suicidality, which will be presented at academic events such as the Penn State Health Family & Community Medicine Resident Research Day.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Reaching our current level of expansion and influence was far from a smooth road. Building collaborations did not come with a silver platter; it required countless late nights spent drafting and sending emails and attending hours of meetings just to establish connections. Our non-profit endured countless rejections from local organizations and couldn’t find a space or audience for stability until we decided to move to a different dimension of public engagement, other than workshops: social media content. Throughout this process, we were constantly searching for our purpose as an organization. Weeks passed with little activity, while other months were filled with intense collaborations, creating schedules of uncertainty. Additionally, because suicidality is such a daunting and sensitive subject, our program leaders have often worked with students experiencing suicidal ideation. Supporting peers through these conversations has been emotionally challenging, taking a toll on our mental health, but it has also deepened our understanding of the responsibility and importance of our mission.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a high school student preparing to transition into college, I have discovered the work I hope to pursue for years to come: suicide prevention research. Throughout my high school career, I have developed a strong passion for research and have spent countless hours studying how evidence-based interventions can better support adolescents experiencing suicidality. My work specializes in suicidality research, where I focus on identifying gaps in existing literature and addressing them through quantitative analysis. So far, I have published two papers and am currently working on two additional publications with professors who specialize in clinical psychology. I am most proud of the research portfolio I have built and the recognition it has received, including the opportunity to present my work at the Penn State Health Family & Community Medicine Resident Research Day, where I presented in a room full of graduate researchers as the only high school student. What sets me apart is my relentless dedication to this work. Even as a high school student, I have pursued research opportunities typically undertaken at the undergraduate or graduate level, driven by the belief that rigorous research can lead to meaningful change in suicide prevention.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I find most wonderful about Fort Lee is its diversity and sense of community. Living in Fort Lee during my growing years has exposed me to a wide variety of people with different cultural backgrounds. Fort Lee is also strategically located near New York City. It provides people with an opportunity to explore the various educational and cultural activities available in New York. At the same time, Fort Lee provides a peaceful environment away from the noise of New York. However, one of the biggest problems facing Fort Lee is the challenge of dealing with the consequences of rapid development and a high population density. At times, it becomes hard for young people in Fort Lee to find a place where they can hold community activities due to the high population and increased traffic.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.youthstabilityandsupportalliance.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youthstabilitysupport/reels/?__d=1%2F%3Fhidemenu%3Dtrue
