Stay Here is a mental health organization dedicated to giving hope to those battling brokenness, depression, anxiety, self-harm, addiction and suicide.
Our Purpose
A message from our founder: “Why I Started Stay Here & Why It Exists.”
I started Stay Here because I couldn’t stay silent. Too many lives were being lost to suicide, and I knew something had to change. This wasn’t just a statistic—it was real people, real pain, and real families left broken. I saw firsthand how many young people felt isolated, hopeless, and like their life didn’t matter. And I couldn’t shake the conviction that we were called to do more.
I’m Jacob Coyne—a husband, father, author, and communicator passionate about bringing hope to a generation that’s hurting. For years, I’ve been in ministry, preaching the Gospel and helping people encounter the love of Jesus. But as I traveled and spoke with young people, I realized how deeply mental health struggles, depression, and suicide were affecting them—even in the church. I knew this wasn’t something we could ignore.
In 2020, at the height of the global mental health crisis, I started speaking out about suicide prevention on social media. I encouraged people to stay, to reach out for help, and to fight for their lives. What happened next changed everything. Messages started pouring in—hundreds, then thousands—from people who were about to end their lives but decided to stay because of something I had posted. I realized that a simple message of hope could make the difference between life and death. And from that burden, Stay Here was born.
The truth is, suicide isn’t just a mental health crisis—it’s a crisis of hope. People don’t end their lives because they want to die; they end their lives because they don’t see another way to keep living. Stay Here exists to change that. We are here to remind people that their story isn’t over, that help is available, and that they are not alone.
From the beginning, the mission was simple but urgent: end suicide by equipping people with hope, tools, and community. We believe that awareness alone isn’t enough—action saves lives. That’s why we created ACT Suicide Prevention Training, free therapy resources, crisis intervention tools, and an entire movement of people willing to stand in the gap for those struggling.
Stay Here exists because no one should fight alone. Every life is worth fighting for, and we won’t stop until a generation believes that their life is worth living. Hope is real. Help is real. Your life matters. Stay here.
Vision and Mission Statement
Vision: A future where suicide is no longer an option—where every generation chooses to stay.
Mission: We exist to end suicide by equipping people with hope, practical tools, and a life-giving community—so no one struggles alone and every life is fought for.
CORE VALUES
1. Hope Over Despair
What It Means: We believe that no matter how dark life feels, there is always hope. Every story can be redeemed, and every person deserves a chance to keep going.
How We Activate It:
We lead with encouragement in all content, conversations, and resources.
We share real stories of breakthrough and healing.
We focus on life, future, and purpose rather than just the struggle.
2. Action Saves Lives
What It Means: Awareness alone is not enough—action changes outcomes. We train people to step in, speak up, and provide real help.
How We Activate It:
We offer free ACT Suicide Prevention Training to equip individuals with practical tools.
We provide easy, actionable steps in our content for people to intervene and support friends in crisis.
We encourage people to do something—whether it’s reaching out, checking in, or sharing resources.
3. Community is the Cure
What It Means: Suicide thrives in isolation, but healing happens in connection. No one should struggle alone.
How We Activate It:
We build spaces where people feel seen, known, and supported.
We encourage in-person and online community engagement through Stay Here Student Ambassadors, local church partnerships, and peer mentorship.
We create safe conversations, breaking the stigma around mental health.
4. Faith & Mental Health Go Hand in Hand
What It Means: We believe in a holistic approach—mental, emotional, and spiritual health matter. We integrate faith with practical mental health strategies.
How We Activate It:
We partner with churches to provide mental health training and crisis response guidance.
We emphasize that seeking therapy, taking medication, and prioritizing mental health is not a lack of faith but a courageous step toward healing.
We pray for those we serve and remind them that God sees, loves, and fights for them.
5. Every Life is Worth Fighting For
What It Means: No matter how broken, lost, or hopeless someone feels, their life has value. We will never stop fighting for them to stay.
How We Activate It:
We provide free therapy options, crisis resources, and life-saving interventions through partnerships.
We mobilize a movement of people committed to standing in the gap for those struggling.
We celebrate every person who chooses to stay—every name, every story, every win matters.
ORGANIZATIONAL LANGUAGE
The way we communicate matters. Here’s how we speak as an organization:
Direct, not vague. We say suicide, not just “mental health struggles.” We don’t avoid hard topics—we tackle them with truth and solutions.
Compassionate, not clinical. We talk like friends, not just professionals. People don’t need to hear cold facts—they need to know we truly care.
Hope-filled, not hopeless. Even when discussing heavy realities, we always point to hope. We remind people of the light, even in the darkness.
Empowering, not just informing. We don’t just give people knowledge—we give them action steps. Every post, talk, and training session should leave someone feeling like they can make a difference.
Faith-friendly, not forceful. We unapologetically believe that Jesus is the ultimate source of hope, but we also serve and love people wherever they’re at—without judgment, expectation, or pressure.
HOW WE ACTIVATE OUR CORE VALUES AS A STAFF & MOVEMENT
As a team and movement, we don’t just talk about our values—we live them.
We Check In Before We Check Out.
Every meeting, we ask: How are you, really? Mental health isn’t just for those we serve—it’s for us, too.
We Lead by Example.
We are the first to take our own training, seek help when needed, and model healthy habits.
We Celebrate Every Life That Stays.
We acknowledge wins, whether it’s a testimony, a training completed, or one person choosing to stay.
We Make Helping Easy & Accessible.
Whether it's through our training, social content, or resources, we remove barriers and make taking action simple.
We Work with Urgency.
Lives are at stake. We move fast, innovate, and adapt to make the biggest impact possible.
We Are a Team, Not Just a Mission.
We build a culture of encouragement, prayer, and support. No one on our team should feel alone in the work we do.