Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in Louisina’s adolescents as well as in NCAA athletes. Having conversations about mental health is crucial to keeping those around us safe.
Ryan Clark, former LSU football player and now ESPN analyst, has a very personal connection to this cause as he lost a good friend to suicide. He now returns to LSU’s campus as an advocate for mental health to host a suicide prevention panel speaking to athletes and students.
The panel consisted of suicide survivor Emma Benoit, former LSU football player DJ Chark, and mental health specialists.
“It is also to give people not only the tools but also the information they need if they are considering harming themselves or if they are going through those daily dark thoughts. They have some place as an outlet to get the help they need,” says Clark.
Clark started his LSU career in 1997. Since then, the LSU athletic scene has changed immensely. With NIL deals and constant social media presence today, athletes face pressure not just from their sport but also from the public eye and business deals. Clark did not experience these pressures and speaks on the toll this takes on athlete’s mental health.
“When I was in college, it was about being a student athlete. I just had to get to class. I didn’t have to understand how to manage my money. I didn’t have to understand what it was like to have people pulling on me for money or being around for that reason. And so, I think that is an added stressor to a kid that is 18 to 21,” said Clark.
Clark spoke with Jordan Tabor and his wife, the founders of the Rain Will Bring Flowers Foundation. They partnered with LSU Athletics, The Joe Burrow Foundation, the LSU L Club, and Our Lady of the Lake Health to organize the event.
The Tabor Family suffered the loss of their son Owen to suicide. After experiencing such grief and pain, they worked to create an organization to promote mental health awareness.
“Our mission is to raise awareness through community events like Planting Seeds of Hope. We are also rolling out education to terrain every single school system in the state,” says Tabor.
Athlete or not, maintaining mental health is a priority and a challenge for many. Events like Planting Seeds of Hope are necessary to bring conversations like these to the table
You can visit Tabor’s organization online at rainwillbringflowers.org. If you or a loved one are struggling, call 988 to be connected to mental health professionals and get the help and guidance you need, and remember you are never alone.
