SUICIDE PREVENTION & AWARENESS
The mission of Shout Out Loud is to bring awareness to suicide prevention in our local community and schools, normalize the conversation about suicide prevention as well as teach coping skills and everyday activities that help with a child’s mental wellness. Shout Out Loud was founded in 2018 by local artist Laura Dizon and Psychologist Dr. Lisa Lovelace after the loss of Laura’s younger brother Aaron Dizon to suicide.
Our yearly event teaches coping skills and everyday activities that help with a person’s mental wellness. Our target populations include children and young adults in the Twin Cities area. We provide resources and connections to other programs that promote the same wellness values. Think of a backyard carnival with fun games, activities and music, all the while teaching children and teens real life coping skills and to ‘Shout Out Loud’ (ask for help) when they need it!
Through our services, we also participate as an informational booth at other resource events provided by local clinics and other nonprofits promoting mental wellness and/or suicide prevention.
Currently, Shout Out Loud relies on the invaluable support of volunteers. Their funding primarily comes from modest sponsorship opportunities for events and generous donations. However, with sufficient funding, they aspire to elevate their operational capacity by appointing a full-time director. This strategic move will be instrumental in expanding our programs into local schools, thereby amplifying our impact within the community.
We are thrilled to report that our 5th event for suicide prevention and awareness was a HUGE success, thanks to all of YOU!
With perfect weather and lots of love, we honored those we’ve lost and hopefully taught each child who attended a new way to cope with stressors in life. To each sponsor, volunteer, donation, vendor, food truck, and event-goers… we can’t express enough thanks for how much your partnership and involvement means to us and our mission.
Much Love,
Laura, Lisa and the entire Shout Out Loud Board!!
Suicide doesn’t have a ‘look’. That’s why we NEED to normalize the conversation around mental health and suicide. We NEED to be talking about suicide prevention in schools, in businesses, and in homes. We NEED to make mental health care and community resources accessible to everyone. We NEED to provide our communities with adequate resources, care, and education to prevent people from reaching a crisis.
Because the people who need help sometimes look a lot like the people who don’t need help.
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With the suicide rate rising in particular among 10-24 year olds, we NEED to do more to teach coping skills and increase awareness about wellness resources.
According to the most recent data from the MN Department of Health 57 students between the ages of 13-19 completed suicide in Minnesota in 2019 and 12.7% of Minnesota students have seriously considered suicide within the last year! 3,066 students were hospital-treated in 2019 from self-harm injuries.
At least 835 Minnesotans died by suicide in 2022, preliminary in-state data indicates. According to the CDC, “Suicide rates increased approximately 36% between 2000–2021. Suicide was responsible for 48,183 deaths in 2021, which is about one death every 11 minutes. The number of people who think about or attempt suicide is even higher.”
Hotlines and crisis intervention is absolutely crucial, in suicide prevention but it’s not enough. It’s important to know the warning signs of suicide prevention but it’s also important to know that often there are no warning signs. We want you to Shout Out Loud and ask for help when you need it Minnesota! Taking a proactive approach to suicide prevention means that preventive measures start long before the need for hotlines or crisis intervention begins.
We talk often about knowing the signs of suicide and how important it is in suicide prevention. If we know the signs, we can better recognize the signs in loved ones, and can intervene if and when we recognize them. This is all very true. But what we don’t talk about enough is that while in some cases there are signs… in many cases there aren’t. For hotlines and crisis intervention to be effective it requires us to know that someone is in a crisis.
At Shout Out Loud our approach tends to be different as we believe that suicide doesn’t always have a ‘look’. It could be anyone! This is why we need to normalize the conversation around mental health and suicide. We need to be talking about suicide prevention in schools, in businesses, and in homes. We need to make mental health care and community resources accessible to everyone. We need to provide our communities with adequate resources, care, and education to prevent people from reaching a crisis.
Because the people who need help sometimes look a lot like the people who don’t need help.
Want to know something cool?
Our ENTIRE organization is made up of Volunteers. Everyone involved volunteers their time, including Laura & Lisa and our Board of Directors. It takes a village to Shout Out Loud!
Our annual event is FREE & FAMILY FRIENDLY with a focus on mental and physical wellness activities for all ages to enjoy. Think of a backyard carnival with fun games, activities, music, food trucks, raffle prizes, and much more! We want to bring in a multitude of diversity and be mindful in elevating the voices of our BIPOC community.
We are proud to announce that funding raised will go towards our school-based Mental Wellness and Coping Skills Program aimed at empowering students with tools and strategies for maintaining mental wellness.
Our 2024 Partners
Food Trucks
Non-Discrimination Policy
Shout Out Loud is committed to fostering a workplace and service environment that is entirely devoid of discrimination. We unequivocally denounce any form of discrimination or harassment rooted in factors such as race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or any other protected status. Our dedication extends beyond mere condemnation; we actively champion mental health awareness, education, and support within an atmosphere that prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion. We firmly believe that embracing and celebrating our differences is paramount to cultivating a more resilient and supportive community for all individuals.