our mission
In Ryyan’s honor, the Ryyan Chacra Foundation aims to help young people open up about their own struggles with OCD and depression.
Suicide is shattering. It amputates a family and rattles a community. We want to believe that crushing events only happen to other people. But the terrible reality is that a suicide happens every 11 minutes.
Although it is estimated that more than 1 in 5 American adults live with a mental health disorder, far too many people suffer alone and in silence because of the societal, practical, and emotional barriers to getting help. And while brain disorders like OCD and depression affect people of all ages and genders, the CDC reports that men and boys make up nearly 80% of those lost to suicide each year.
We believe that creating a foundation like this is exactly the sort of thing Ryyan himself would do. Ryyan once wrote: “Above all, I love to give and lift others I care about up.” Not only did Ryyan go to great lengths to help those he loved, but he also believed in the importance of comprehensive mental health education and felt strongly that there was not enough attention spent on mental health in school throughout development.
RCF will conduct its work by supporting education, research, and public outreach efforts that focus on:
Creating public awareness around the term “OCD.”
Providing opportunities for early intervention.
Helping young men to talk more openly about their struggles and seek help in order to live vibrant lives and avoid the devastating tragedy of suicide.
Right now, the foundation is still in its earliest stage. We are consulting with psychological experts, learning more about the complexities of OCD, depression, and suicide, and figuring out how the foundation can best channel resources toward its goal of helping others like Ryyan.
As we evolve, the website will reflect the programs and initiatives that the foundation will support in furtherance of its overarching mission. We hope that you’ll keep in touch and follow along with us as the foundation grows.
This project is a labor of love, born out of a primal drive to never let go — to do something to keep Ryyan’s name alive, to honor the way he lived his life, and to channel some of the love and energy he put into the world to help others like him find the care they need.
Learn more about the work the Ryyan Chacra Foundation is doing and what you can do to help.