Mental health promotion, suicide prevention in Dayton
Nation World News
DAYTON, Ohio – The University of Dayton and CareSource are holding a town hall to promote mental health and suicide prevention.
The purpose of Thursday’s event is to break the stigma of mental health. It also provides a reminder to just ask someone how they are doing. The event was held to honor Jada Grant, daughter of UD men’s basketball head coach Anthony Grant. Jada died in 2022, after struggling with mental illness.
Tyler Hilinski is a quarterback at Washington State. He died by suicide in 2018.
Her parents shared her story with UD by spotlighting some warning signs to look for.
“If you see that they’re not getting enough sleep, they’re getting too much sleep, they’re missing practice or missing class, if there’s a change in the way they’re acting, ask them, ask them why,” said Kym Hilinski, the Tyler’s mother.
Hilinski’s Hope is a non-profit foundation that promotes mental health and wellness awareness and education for student athletes.
Hilinski told those listening to the event to examine three people in your life.
“At least once a week. The teammates are looking for two guys, right, that you can check and ask them how they are doing right and really listen to their answer,” Hilinski said.
The townhall also provides answers for people looking for resources and where to go if they or someone they know needs help.
“Honestly, it usually takes about ten years for someone to actually seek treatment. And we want to lower that number significantly. So we have a ton of resources here in the arena tonight. So those people leave here knowing where to go, if they need support,” said Colleen Oakes, coalition manager, Montgomery County Prevention Coalition.
Oakes says hearing stories like Hilinski’s and the grants go a long way toward breaking down the stigma.
UD was happy for those who attended and shared it about giving back to the community.
“You know, we think it’s important to be more than sports, more than education. We’re part of the community and we have to do our part. And that’s how we see it. As a catholic marinist school to be outside the community. We have a lot of questions from the community. So we have to give back a lot. And I think this is just one of those events that we’re able to do that,” said Neil Sullivan, vice president and director in athletics at UD.
The UD Men’s Basketball team will host Ohio State in an exhibition this Sunday to further shine the spotlight on mental health.
