SUICIDE PREVENTION & AWARENESS
The mission of Shout Out Loud is to raise awareness about suicide prevention in our local community and schools, normalize conversations around mental health, and teach coping skills and strategies that support a person’s mental wellness.
Founded in 2018 by local artist Laura Dizon and psychologist Dr. Lisa Lovelace after the tragic loss of Laura’s younger brother, Aaron, to suicide, Shout Out Loud has since focused on providing resources and fostering community dialogue to reduce stigma and help people access mental health support.
Our activities include educational Lunch and Learns, community outreach to raise awareness, and resource connections to local organizations offering mental health support. Through our annual event, which is a family-friendly experience featuring games, music, and activities, we teach coping skills to children and teens, encouraging them to ‘Shout Out Loud’ (ask for help) when they need it. Additionally, we participate as an informational booth at local events, connecting with other nonprofits and clinics promoting mental wellness and suicide prevention.
Shout Out Loud is powered by the support of volunteers and relies on event sponsorships and donations to fund its work. With additional funding, we aim to appoint a full-time director, expanding our programs into local schools and further amplifying our impact within the community.
We invite you to join us for our 6th Annual Suicide Prevention Wellness Carnival
Saturday, September 27th, 2025
11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
at the Rec Center ROC in St. Louis Park.
Rain or Shine – Event is Outdoors yet fully covered
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.
Sponsored By
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.
In 2023, 815 Minnesotans died from suicide, down from the historically high number of 860 in 2022, according to preliminary data. The suicide rate fell from 14.8 per 100,000 in 2022 to 14.1 per 100,000 in 2023. Deaths by suicide in Minnesota have been trending up for the past 20 years with some slight fluctuations each year, mirroring patterns across the United States.
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.
2025 Partners
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.