This September, we’re sharing stories for Suicide Prevention Month.
Today, we share a story from Aras Jizan, former board member and advisor for Our Minds Matter. We invite you to share your reflections, or what is on your mind this month, here.
When I lost a close friend to suicide during my junior year of college in 2011, I spent years wondering what I could have done differently.
How could I have better supported him through his mental health struggles? How could I honor his memory in a meaningful way? These questions stayed with me long after the initial grief began to settle.
The experience fundamentally shifted how I think about mental health. I realized I had been approaching it like crisis response – something you only address when things go wrong.
But what if we treated mental health more like physical wellness? Just as we brush our teeth daily and stretch regularly to prevent root canals and pulled muscles, what if we built mental health practices into our routine before we reach a breaking point?
As I worked through my grief, I discovered that two things had the most positive impact on my wellbeing: peer support and opportunities to help others – what researchers call “prosocial behavior.” When I made these practices part of my weekly routine rather than occasional responses to difficult moments, I found they created lasting change in how I felt and how I moved through the world.
This is exactly why I feel so enthusiastic about Our Minds Matter’s approach to teen mental health.
OMM equips young people with mental health skills through weekly club meetings and regular school-wide events so that they can navigate life’s ups and downs and build a culture that prioritizes mental health—long before a crisis occurs.
By focusing on social connection, help-seeking skills, and prosocial behavior as regular practices rather than emergency interventions, OMM is creating the kind of preventive mental health culture I wish had existed when my friend and I needed it most.
— Written by Aras Jizan
Why we’re sharing stories this month
September is Suicide Prevention Month – a time when we remember those we’ve lost, and commit to action that can save lives.
This month, we’ll share stories from people who inspire our work: a board member who lost a close friend, a student who turned her struggles into leadership, and the measurable impact your support makes possible.
We’d love to hear from you, too. Tell us what’s on your mind this month — whether it’s someone you’re remembering, a hope you carry for change, or a moment from your life that has shaped how you think about mental health.
If you or someone you know needs mental health support, explore these free resources. You are not alone. 💙