BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Several organizations gathered at LSU Tuesday night (Feb. 24) to connect people struggling with mental health to campus, community, and national resources through an event called “Planting Seeds of Hope.”
The event was presented by the Rain Will Bring Flowers Foundation, the Joe Burrow Foundation, The L Club, and FMOL Health/Our Lady of the Lake.
Foundation born after family’s loss
The Rain Will Bring Flowers Foundation, a Baton Rouge nonprofit, was started three years ago by Jordan and Lisa Tabor after they lost their 15-year-old son, Owen, to suicide.
“He came from a stable home where he’s loved and supported in every way. A home rooted in faith. A home with tons of resources,” Jordan Tabor, co-founder of the Rain Will Bring Flowers Foundation, said. “And I just share that so people understand that if a kid like Owen can fall victim of suicide, then we feel like all of our kids are at risk.”
Resources, speakers, and tools offered
Guests received more than 50 campus, community, and national mental health resources. A panel of speakers offered perspectives on mental health, along with practical tools for understanding and supporting those in crisis.
ESPN analyst and Louisiana native Ryan Clark said the event is aimed at helping families avoid loss.
“We’re in a world now where mental health is more focused on, more talked about, but we’re still seeing, you know, day after day, week after week, month after month, kids lose their lives,” Clark said. “And we want to be a part of trying to help some family avoid the pain of having to bury their child.”
Dr. Ray Tucker, associate professor in the LSU Department of Psychology, said he encourages people to make themselves available to others.
“What I always try to think of is try to be the person and ask the questions that show, if you are going through something, even if I don’t see it, you can come to me,” Tucker said.
Retired U.S. Army Sgt. Rick Yarosh also spoke at the event.
“I know that I wouldn’t be in this position today without the people that work on me to help me get those things,” Yarosh said.
Tabor said the goal of the gathering is to make the community aware of what is available to them.
“I think it’s just really important to allow the community to see everything that is available to them that they may not be aware of,” Tabor said.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline available 24/7
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call center specialists are available for those who need to talk, and are equipped with additional resources for callers in need.
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