Suicide Prevention Coalition holds open house to connect people with resources
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(Editor’s note: Your life matters more than you may realize right now. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or hopeless, please reach out. You do not have to face this pain alone. There are people who care deeply about you and want to listen without judgment. Asking for help is a sign of strength, and it can be the first step toward healing and hope. If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal, you can call or text 988 in the U.S., or use www.988lifeline.org for free, confidential support 24/7. You are not alone, and help is always available.)
There is an unfortunate fellowship of people in Howard County that is mirrored in communities across the nation and world. They are the survivors, the loved ones left in the wake of suicide. But some of them are determined to limit membership in this tragic fraternity.
Locally, the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Howard County is doing the work to ensure no one takes their own life. Recently, the coalition held an open house as an outreach to those impacted by the tragedy and those who might be considering an end to their lives.
The event took place Feb. 17 at MO Joe’s Coffee Shop in downtown Kokomo, and dozens dropped by to find and provide support and resources that might stop the next person from seeking suicide.
“We want to increase volunteers and to get people more involved in what we’re doing,” said coalition co-founder Ann Moore. “We’ve raised some money. We’ve got a couple years under our belt, so we want to get out in the community a little bit more and help in different ways.”
The purpose of the open house, then, was to attract people to the cause. Moore said their hope was to find people willing to serve on the board of the organization and to help build their coalition so that more people can be involved.
Moore expressed gratitude to MO Joe’s Coffee House for hosting the open house, as well as for donating snacks and door prizes. Because of that generosity, dozens of people were able to meet with the coalition members and learn more about the efforts taking place to help prevent suicide.
The Suicide Prevention Coalition of Howard County was established in 2020 in the midst of the COVID pandemic. At the time, Moore and coalition vice president Patty Stage both had lost a loved one to suicide. They were unwilling to sit idly as other families and individuals were impacted by a similar tragedy.
“We’ve both gone through it,” said Moore. “We had lost our brothers, and so we decided to do something. We built our coalition. We grabbed friends and family, and we just asked, ‘What can we do? Where can we start?’”
They began by selling just a single yard sign. A couple small donations followed, allowing the coalition to order some “swag” to distribute at the Howard County 4H Fair. They spent that week in 2021 handing out information and resources. The coalition has built slowly since then.
In 2022, the coalition held its first Walk of Hope, raising awareness about suicide prevention. Its fourth iteration took place last September, drawing hundreds to Foster Park.
The coalition meets monthly at the Kokomo Howard County Public Library on the third Tuesday of the month. And coalition members participate in health fairs and community events throughout the year. But the push for 2026 will be to get involved in area schools.
“We want to reach out to the schools, because we know that that’s the age group that’s most affected by suicide,” said Moore. “Starting near fifth grade, unfortunately, there’s a lot of mental illness in that age group, and into high school, into young adulthood. Thoughts of suicide and mental illness are not prejudiced. They get to a lot of people.”
Moore said the coalition is determined connect people with medical care and counseling. They work with organizations like Bowen Health and 4C to guide people to needed resources.
“We’re connecting with people in the community,” said Moore. “We can network and work alongside other organizations, just reaching out to people. We’re not psychiatrists. We’re not professionals. We’re just unfortunately part of that suicide family that has dealt with loss, and we want to change that. If we can save one life, then we’ve done something good that day.”
People interested in participating in the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Howard County are advised to follow it on Facebook, where information is posted, along with photos and recaps of the coalition’s activities. Those who want to reach out may do so through Facebook Messenger or via email to suicidepreventionhoco@gmail.com.