Talking About Mental Health Isn’t Enough Anymore & Here’s What Works
Why bringing in trained, trusted voices matters more than ever.
It usually happens after.
After the suicide note.
After the call from the school counselor.
After a friend breaks down or a parent finds the scars.
That’s when people call us; schools, churches, parents, companies; in shock, trying to figure out what they missed.
But what we’ve learned, over decades in this work, is that talking about mental health after crisis is too late. The time to start the conversation is before someone breaks.
The Cost of Waiting
According to a 2024 Johns Hopkins University study, communities that engage in proactive mental-health conversations, before crisis — see a 28% decrease in suicide attempts and related emergencies.
Let that sink in: twenty-eight percent. That’s the difference between a close call and a funeral.
We’ve seen it firsthand. Too often, schools and churches invite us only after tragedy strikes, after a student takes their life, after a family is shattered, after they realize the posters and awareness week weren’t enough.
Even some of the most well-resourced families have made the same mistake. I’ve had millionaires tell me they weren’t interested in funding or partnering with us, only to call three weeks later after discovering their teenage daughter was cutting herself. Now it’s urgent. Now it’s personal.
But by then, we’re responding instead of preventing.
Why Awareness Isn’t Action
Awareness is good. It gets people talking. It removes stigma. It opens the door. But if we stop there, it’s like announcing a fire drill after the building’s already burning.
The hard truth is this: students don’t need another poster or assembly. They need connection, conversation, and tools from people trained to walk into the darkness with hope, not fear.
That’s what our workshops and keynotes are built for. We don’t just “raise awareness.” We train staff, equip students, and guide communities to build systems that reach them before they need to be rescued.
Why Bringing in Outside Voices Works
It’s easy to think, “We can handle this internally.” But here’s why an outside voice changes everything:
Credibility: We’re not theory. We’ve lived it. We bring real stories, not scripts.
Connection: Students often hear us differently than they hear their teachers or parents. Sometimes it takes a new voice to open an old wound.
Clarity: We give language to feelings many can’t express — and tools to take the next step.
Continuity: We don’t perform and leave; we partner and follow through.
When we walk into a school, church, or event, we don’t come with shock value. We come with strategy. We come with prevention that works.
What Happens When Hope Walks Into the Room
At one recent workshop, a student who had been silent all semester raised their hand and shared their “101st reason to stay alive.” That moment changed the room. Teachers cried. Students lined up afterward to talk, not because it was trendy, but because they felt safe for the first time.
That’s what happens when hope becomes practical.
The Ripple Effect
When a student feels seen, they speak up.
When a teacher feels equipped, they intervene early.
When a parent has tools, they recognize signs sooner.
That’s the ripple. And it starts with one conversation before crisis, not after.
What You Can Do
If you’re a school administrator, youth pastor, or community leader, don’t wait for another headline to take action.
Invite us, or any group doing this work, to help your team build a plan. Let’s move from awareness to action.
Because we can’t afford to keep waiting for “after.”
Bring Hope to Your School, Event, or Church
Shannon@ifyoudontquityouwin.com
If You Don’t Quit You Win
Find the most hurting. Respond in the most immediate and proactive way possible.
