The Tatissa Foundation for Suicide Prevention in support of Okaloosa Suicide Prevention and Support (Okaloosa SPS) announces its first fundraiser for April 13, 7-9 p.m., at the Edge Seafood Restaurant and Bar, Destin. This is the group’s inaugural fundraiser and seeks to raise funds for suicide prevention awareness and improved access to support and resources in Okaloosa County.
Tickets are $50 per person and may be purchased online at https://tinyurl.com/2p8psrx8. The event will feature a dinner buffet, local and national guest speakers and a silent auction. Funds will be used to pay for QPR (Question, Persuade and Refer) Gatekeeper training and other suicide prevention, intervention and postvention trainings, as well as informational materials, speakers, and other suicide prevention resources and events.
Okaloosa SPS was established in collaboration with concerned local residents in January 2023 as a program of The Tatissa Foundation, https://www.thetatissafoundation.org. While many organizations focus on prevention within certain age groups or populations, Okaloosa SPS recognizes the need for broader outreach and suicide prevention activities and is dedicated to raising awareness to everyone in the county.
Sabina and Louis Zunguze, founders of the Tatissa Foundation and Okaloosa SPS, said, “from our personal experience, suicide is a complex issue that can affect anyone and, as such, it is everyone’s business. We are all touched by suicide in unique ways that require community-wide well-coordinated, affordable and sustainable services and we hope that this fundraiser will be our contribution to that cause.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the second leading cause of death for ages 10-34. In 2020, an estimated 12.2 million adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.2 million made a plan, and 1.2 million attempted suicide. Rates have nearly doubled since 2006 for children ages 10-14. In Okaloosa County, in the last five years there have been 30 deaths by suicide between the ages of 10 and 24.
Dial or Text 988 the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. You can also find help at 988 lifeline.org. if you need help.
For additional information about the fundraiser or donating/contributing to the silent auction, contact okaloosasps@gmail.com. To learn more about Okaloosa SPS, or how you can get involved, email or visit Facebook
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