With September wrapping up, Suicide Prevention month is also coming to an end. On Sept. 30, Shout Out Loud held their fourth annual Suicide Prevention awareness event at the Park ROC.
Organizer of the suicide prevention event, Laura Dizon said she enjoyed seeing the community come together.
“Seeing our community come together, for sure. And how many people have shown up to show their support,” Dizon said.
Senior Josh Folwick said the focus on mental health stuck out to him.
“My favorite part was the emphasis on what different things affect mental health,” Folwick said. “A big part that stuck out to me was the physical fitness.”
Dizon said the main goal for this interactive event was to shed light on peoples struggles and help them with their mental health.
“To raise awareness for suicide prevention and teach young people coping skills, everyday activities that they can use in life to help them when they’re stressed out,” Dizon said.
Sophomore Mira Halverson said this event taught her that people are going through things in their everyday lives.
“It’s okay to not be okay. And a lot of people are going through the same thing as you,” Halverson said.
Folwick said that he wanted to be aware of mental health struggles around him.
“I wanted to make sure that I was aware of all the things that are going on around me every day,” Folwick said.
According to Dizon, she does this in honor of her brother Aaron, who committed suicide in 2014. Aaron was a Park graduate.
“I do this in honor of my brother, who also was a St. Louis Park graduate who completed suicide in 2014. It’s in his honor — for Aaron,” Dizon said.
Folwick said that the point of view on mental health varies from person to person.
“I learned that mental health looks different for everybody,” Folwick said. “It takes a broader look, you have to look at the bigger picture to see it.”
This is Shout Out Louds fourth year doing this interactive event, but Dizon said it won’t be the last.
“This is our fourth year and we’ve had to stop for COVID but this is our fourth, (but) next year we’ll be back,” Dizon said.
