Speaker Says Depression, Addiction, and Suicide are 'Issues of Humanity'

It started with two words: “f--- up."

She thought they were a perfect representation of who she was.

Renee Yohe, a depressed cocaine addict who self injured to numb the pain, carved them into her arm the night she met the man who would save her life. Jamie Tworkowski was that man.

Tworkowski, founder of To Write Love On Her Arms, spent Friday night at Green Acres Baptist Church in Athens telling Yohe’s story, which gave birth to a cause that has touched the lives of over 80,000 people.

His talk was given to an audience of over 50, and relayed his belief that depression is treatable, no one is alone in their struggles, and that, above all, everyone was created to be loved.

To Write Love On Her Arms is an organization that was created to support and find treatment for people battling depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide.

So far, the organization has responded to over 80,000 messages in over 40 different countries.

“Some of the people who write to us seek help,” said Tworkowski, “others seek help for their friends and family battling pain. Some of the people I’ve talked to said they’ve never told anyone their story before.”

The foundation for the organization was laid in 2006, when Tworkowski wrote a two-page story about the struggles of 19-year-old Renee Yohe, who was battling cocaine addiction and suicidal thoughts. 

Tworkowski’s story called “To Write Love On Her Arms,” documents the five days he and his friends spent with Yohe before she was admitted for treatment.

In his story, Tworkowski wrote, “For the next five days, she is ours to love. We become her hospital and the possibility of healing fills our living room with life. It is unspoken and there are only a few of us, but we will be her church, the body of Christ coming alive to meet her needs, to write love on her arms.”

Tworkowski said his mission was to replace those words she had cut into her arm with love. He wanted to change her perception of herself.

After she was admitted into rehab, Tworkowski wrote her story and made t-shirts with the title printed on them to raise money for her treatment.

Tworkowski also made a Myspace page for the fundraiser and asked some of his friends who were band members to wear the shirts to raise awareness.

Over the next few weeks, Tworkowski and friends were flooded with messages and comments from people all over the world who said Yohe’s story was their story.

“It was then that I realized that addiction, pain, and depression were not white issues or emo issues,” said Tworkowski, “They are issues of humanity."

It was the Myspace page and the thousands of cries for help that inspired Tworkowski to create the organization.

“I do my best to give encouragement,” said Tworkowski, “I want the people who write me to know they are loved, more than they will ever know, and that their stories matter. I want them to know their life is worth fighting for.” 

By Miranda Stancil