Artists Come Together For Suicide Prevention Concert
On Sept. 21, 2019, Moreland the Shooting partnered with ConnectLive to hold the Suicide Prevention and Awareness Show in Acworth, Georgia. Proceeds for the event went to the foundation, Hope for the Day, which provides resources and encourages conversations for the mentally ill.
Doors opened at 6pm to ConnectLive. Band members John Eck, Daisy Bells, and Eric Deaux began the night at their merchandise table where 10% of sales went to Hope for the Day. At 7:30 p.m. Noel Malphoi started the show, followed by Maggie Schneider, Virago, and lastly Moreland the Shooting. Eric Deaux, guitarist for the band, organized the event both for people who have struggled with mental health and for people who know someone that has.
In reference to September being National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, Daisy Bellis, lead singer, said, “The fact that only one month is devoted [to suicide awareness] is a problem. We should always be open. We should always be checking up on each other.”
Both attendees and performers spoke on their personal experiences with mental health. Noel Malphoi spoke about a close friend who committed suicide in August, one month after she wrote a song for him, “I’m glad he got to hear it before he died.”
Maggie Schneider expressed support for the event by saying, “it’s easy [to perform] when you’re passionate about it.” She explained, “Fortunately, I have not faced that struggle, but I know people who have.” She hopes her music can inspire others to be true to themselves and assure them they are not alone.
The concert coincides with, but is not related to, an event on the SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) Savannah campus where student Zaya Kuroda-Grauer posted a project about suicide at the school. Her project also encouraged an open discussion on the topic, bringing in professors, students, and the dean.
“I’ve never turned away someone who wanted to talk about their issues and I’ve never been turned away.” She posted her project on Instagram and later said, “The response was overwhelmingly positive. I posted it on social media and it kind of blew up. It made it clear, at least throughout the student body, that it was something people wanted to talk about. It was on their minds, on their hearts.”
Kuroda-Grauer knew a student who committed suicide during the 2017–2018 school year. Her main complaint was the month long waiting period for seeing school counselors and the limit of only seeing them once every two weeks. SCAD was unable to be reached for comment.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services assures suicide is a preventable and treatable health problem that everyone can help solve.
The Office of the Surgeon General outlines a list of what to do if you suspect someone is at risk, “Ask them if they are thinking about killing themselves. (This will not put the idea into their heads, or make it more likely that they will attempt suicide.); Call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800–273-TALK (8255); Take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional; Remove any objects that could be used in a suicide attempt; and if possible, do not leave the person alone.”
The National Suicide Prevention Hotline is open 24 hours and offers both phone call and online chat options for those who need to talk.
