Utah suicide prevention town hall offers options to help with journey out of darkness

LEHI — A father and mental health advocate described Thursday how a 14th-century epic poem provided him with a way to connect with his son and find hope during a time when both father and son were struggling with depression.

Richard Godfrey, founding partner of Avec-me, an organization that specializes as a resource for companies to deliver workshops and presentations to promote mental health and community in the workplace, said the "Divine Comedy," by Dante Alighieri, provided him and his son with a common ground where they could discuss the mental health issues they dealt with.

The plight of the story's protagonist, Dante, who finds himself in hell and embarks on a journey to escape toward the light, serves as a just allegory for what it's like to struggle with depression, Godfrey said. He shared a particular moment in the story where Dante's guide throughout the journey, Virgil, points at a sign placed at the gates of hell that reads "Abandon hope all ye who enter here" — this is the moment in the book where Godfrey said he first found common ground with his son.

"Our shared struggle was the struggle to be hopeful when we were near darkness," said Godfrey, telling a town hall audience Thursday in Lehi about the special moment he found with his son when the pair finally felt like they shared common ground and could open up and discuss the mental health struggles they were both facing.

Godfrey introduced five aspects of health that Utah nonprofit Promise2Live believes are essential to take care of: physical health, mental health, emotional health, spiritual health and social health. Promise2Live believes in guiding those who are struggling to the right resources and teach them to identify and prepare for mental health crises.

Promise2Live and tech nonprofit Silicon Slopes held the town hall on the topic of suicide prevention and maximizing awareness of mental health so that people can better reach out to those who are struggling in their communities, with the ultimate goal of calling on mental health advocates to keep looking for ways to make resources accessible and visible to those who are struggling.

"I'm here to tell you suicide is preventable," said Brandy Vega, president and founder of Promise2Live, after sharing with the attendees the tragic story of her own daughter's suicide attempt. "However, it is a big problem and it is a big problem that we need to address."

Vega emphasized that suicide is a problem that concerns every single human being — as we're all susceptible to falling into that deep, dark place. Suicide happens to people across every spectrum including age, race, socioeconomic background and more, she said.

Vega and her nonprofit organization seek to encourage people struggling with mental illness to "make the promise" and pledge to not consider suicide as an option and instead to utilize the now-abundant resources available to those who are struggling. Promise2Live is dedicated to aggregating mental health resources for those dealing with suicidal ideation so they are readily accessible to people who need them.

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"The body keeps score," said Cynthia Gambill, a chief relationship officer of Saprea, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering victims of child sexual abuse to find ways to heal from the trauma that occurs as a result of the abuse. Gambill listed ways that the trauma they carry often manifests itself as physical afflictions like addiction, eating disorders, sleeping disorders and suicidal ideation.

Gambill explained that Saprea seeks to liberate victims of child sexual abuse from the trauma through workshops and retreats and that Saprea also understands part of that is being able to combat suicidal ideation.

Tom Telford, a mental health advocate and entrepreneur, spoke on behalf of Brainstoke, a media company with a focus on sharing stories and information on mental health struggles. He recalled being bullied during his childhood for having a learning disability, and noted that dealing with negative emotions is the key to easing the weight of the emotional baggage created by trauma from the past.

From the perspective of an entrepreneur, Telford said, it is possible to change negative emotions into fuel that can propel you forward in other areas of your life.

John Dye, the executive director of Skylight, said it's an app that helps its users tap into their spiritual health and learn how to manage the array of emotions that the average human being experiences every day. The app is routine-based and encourages users to update the app and participate in its workshops regularly to deal with their mental health struggles.

"The key is to help people regulate those emotions, not get rid of them, but regulate them," said Dye, referencing how you can channel the negative emotions that drive mental maladies like depression, anxiety or suicidal ideation into something more positive and healthy. The free app offers users a selection of ways that they can foster their spiritual wellness, including yoga routines, meditations, gratitude exercises and prayers.

"Connection eliminates contention," said Godfrey, whose presentation focused on the importance of social health. "And, connection gives us tools to address mental health."

Godfrey emphasized that our connection to our communities and loved ones is ultimately what matters most in life. He urged the audience members to connect with people in their lives by being available, being curious, being imaginative and being linked — emphasizing the importance of being present in the lives of their loved ones in case they happen to go through a mental health crisis.

"Rising waters lift all ships," said Vega as she wrapped up the event, urging the importance of cultivating action from awareness by connecting communities with the right resources so that individuals facing mental health struggles can get the help that they need and get it quickly.

Correction: A previous version said that Brandy Vega founded Promise2Live after her daughter's suicide; it was after her daughter's suicide attempt.

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