It's time to help young people find a voice, better future
Alisa LaPolt
I use my intuition, experience in media and politics, and advocacy skills to help changemakers harness their passion and create actionable steps to transform lives, businesses, and communities.
In my world, the date of April 28 weighs very heavy on my heart and soul.?
On this day in 2019, I received a call from my brother with the horrific news that our 21-year-old nephew had died by suicide. From that moment, everything in my life turned upside down.
I knew he’d been struggling. We had tried to get him help. We would eventually piece together that Gavin had planned it for weeks. He was done. He couldn’t take it anymore. ?He took a friend’s firearm and ended it.
Gavin’s suicide is what catapulted me back to Tennessee after living 20 years in Florida, where I had done a lot of mental health advocacy work, particularly following the tragedy at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. After Gavin’s death, I needed to be closer to family, and I was driven by a desire to somehow help young people.
Today, I teach people how to use their story about mental illness for positive change and advocate at the Tennessee General Assembly.
I knew the tragedy in Parkland, Fla., would someday happen in Tennessee. And it did –at Covenant School in Nashville just last month. This morning, I found myself on a conference call with other mental health advocates discussing a potential special legislative session to consider legislation around gun violence and mental health. ?
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Since the Covenant School tragedy, those issues have been highly controversial. Many family members, friends and colleagues have asked me how someone could commit such a crime. My personal view is that it’s rooted in isolation. Lack of community. Lack of hope.
I think it’s high time we focus on the health and wellbeing of our youth.
Our young people need a voice. They are living in a time of active shooter drills at school; suicide rates are climbing; deaths by drug overdose are at an all-time high. Young people are the future of this country. They are tired, angry, and ready to speak up. We’ve seen that here in Nashville – scores of young people coming to the state Capitol to rally around laws addressing gun violence.
On this important day of reflection, I’ve decided that I want to do something more to help young people. Help them speak up. Run for office. Protect their mental health. Feel connection and community. I’m not sure what that looks like yet, but here’s what I do know -- this April 28 has the promise of moving me from heaviness to hope.
We are deeply sorry for your loss and can only imagine how difficult April 28 must be for you. At Tough To Talk, we understand the importance of creating a better world for youth and young adults, especially when it comes to their mental health. We believe that everyone deserves to live in a world where they feel safe, understood, and supported in their struggles. This is why we work tirelessly to raise awareness and provide resources to those in need. You are not alone in your grief, and we are here to support you and everyone who has been affected by suicide. Let's work together to make the world a better place for young people.