TWLOHA

To Write Love on Her Arms

Abbreviation	TWLOHA
Motto	"Love Is the Movement" "Rescue Is Possible"
Formation	2006
Type	Non-profit organization
Purpose	Present hope and find help for people struggling with depression, self-injury, addiction or suicide while also investing directly into treatment and recovery.
Headquarters	Melbourne, Florida, US
Official language	English
Founder / Creative Director	Jamie Tworkowski
Budget	5,000,000
Staff	12
Website	www.twloha.com

To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) is an American non-profit organization which aims to present hope for people struggling with addiction, depression, self-injury and thoughts of suicide while also investing directly into treatment and recovery. Based in Melbourne, Florida, TWLOHA seeks to connect people to treatment centers, websites, books, support groups and other resources. TWLOHA also encourages people to have honest conversations about these issues, and to live in community.

The organization's name is a direct reference to the first person that they ever helped, a young addict who self-harmed by cutting the words "Fuck Up" on her arm with a razor blade—with the group's founder writing an article hoping to help the addict to get cleaned up and "To write 'love' on her arms" instead.

A large portion of the work is dedicated to bridging the gap between traditional treatment (i.e. rehab, counseling, helplines) and the lives of people who need help. Examples of this include music festivals and tours, social networking sites, and schools and universities. Wanting to support existing professional help organizations rather than replace them, TWLOHA also sends a portion of donations directly to such causes as Hopeline, InTheRooms.com, S.A.F.E. Alternatives, Minding Your Mind, and (in Australia) Kids Helpline.

The group's main exposure comes from musicians and bands who wear the organization's distinctive T-shirts in photographs and performances; however, it has recently gained more public exposure through merchandise and public community websites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and Tumblr.

TWLOHA was founded by Jamie Tworkowski in March 2006. Prior to that, the seeds of the group were sown by a story written by Tworkowski, about 19-year-old Renee Yohe, who struggled with addiction, depression, self-injury and attempted suicide. Tworkowski's story, written in February 2006, chronicles Yohe's life five days before she entered treatment. Unable to get Yohe checked into a treatment center in the meantime, friends offered moral support.