About Another Chance
Another Chance Youth Mentoring is a community-based organization that provides support to youth and young adults who are at-risk for suicide. ACYM’s goal is to reduce the stigma of mental health by creating a more inviting community that allows individuals to have the courage to ask for help. Ultimately, ACYM wants to reduce the number of suicides amongst all ages. ACYM targets adolescents and young adults but does not turn away any individual in need of support no matter age, race, gender, or religion. ACYM provides prevention and postvention support to individuals and families who have been affected by suicide. ACYM is not licensed to provide intervention services.
ACYM follows a peer support model. Peer Support Specialists provide support to others based on their own lived experiences (in our case, mental health challenges). Through education of wellness (physical, mental, and emotional) and linkages to the community, Peer Support Specialists are able to instill hope as an individual moves forward.
ACYM ensures that staff is trained in QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer), Mental Health First Aid, and a variety of other continued education trainings recommended by SAMSHA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) and SPRC (Suicide Prevention Resource Center).
Why Suicide Prevention?
Another Chance focuses on youth because often times the struggles of young people are overlooked or seen as insignificant when in fact they to suffer from mental illness. Additionally, with the stigma attached to mental illness, youth, and adults alike, are ashamed to reach to healthcare professionals for assistance. Some facts according to dosomething.org :
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in 65,000 children ages 10 to 14 commit suicide each year
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There is 1 suicide for every 25 attempts
Our Staff
Chelsey D. Farmer, Chief Founding Officer
Chelsey identifies herself as a wounded healer. Chelsey has struggled with thoughts of hoplessness herself. Chelsey has worked extensively in her communities to motivate, encourage, and befriend those who feel alone.
Academically, Chelsey received an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Hampton University and a Master's in Criminology, Law and Society from University of California, Irvine. Chelsey is currently pursuing her Master's in Counseling at Wake Forest University. Her interests include juvenile delinquency and of course, suicide and crisis intervention services.
Professionally, Chelsey has been a mentor, site coordinator, case manager, and mentor advisor for a local nonprofit in the Hampton Roads, VA area. Chelsey has worked as a qualified mental health professional and case manager since 2016.
In her free time Chelsey enjoys traveling, volunteering/mentoring, blogging, and training/participating in the Chick~fil~A 5k!
C. Nichole Carter, Chief Operations Officer
