September is National Suicide Awareness Month. It serves as a time for Brighton High School students to reflect on mental health and raise awareness for the lasting effects of depression and other mental illnesses. The Brighton community offers numerous programs designed to educate its students. Building on these ongoing efforts, on Sept. 30, 2025, BHS hosted a resource fair during all lunches.
The goal of the fair was to not only spread awareness on suicide prevention but also stop the stigma that surrounds this topic.
“Providing suicide prevention and awareness resources to our students is essential, as these efforts help identify warning signs early, reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and encourage students to seek help when needed,” Ms. Jennifer Harper, a social worker at BHS, said.
At the fair, organizations such as the Carl Nagy Foundation, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the BHS mental health staff participated. Each group is dedicated to supporting students’ mental health through advocacy, education and prevention.
“You never know when you might need this information. The first time you hear about suicide prevention, you or someone you know may not need it, so it might not feel relevant. But life can change quickly,” Harper said.
In addition, Harper emphasized the importance of hosting these kinds of events for all students.
“It empowers peers to support one another and foster a caring, safe school environment where students know they are not alone and that help is always available,” she said.
With National Suicide Awareness Month now concluded, it is up to the Brighton community to continue these meaningful conversations. Events like the resource fair reinforce the idea that no student should face these struggles alone. Throughout the rest of this school year, BHS will host similar events and offer continuous resources to ensure students are heard and aware of available support systems within the school.
Students seeking help can reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
