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On Tuesday, February 24, students and faculty attended the "Rain Will Bring Flowers" Youth Suicide Prevention Talk. 

The event was the 3rd Annual “Planting Seeds of Hope”, organized by the Rain Will Bring Flowers Foundation, co-founded by Jordan and Lisa Tabor after the loss of their 15-year-old son, Owen, to suicide. Its mission is to raise awareness around mental health and suicide prevention and to connect people with support and resources.

A panel of speakers shared personal insights and discussion around mental wellness, resilience, and community support. Presenters included:

    •  Clyde Edwards '17, talked about how important it is to have a good support system. 

    •  ESPN analyst Ryan Clark, who emphasized the importance of helping families and communities to prevent loss and support those struggling.  

    •  Dr. Ray Tucker, an LSU psychology professor, who highlighted the importance of being available and responsive in conversations about mental health.  

    •  Retired U.S. Army Sgt. Rick Yarosh, a veteran who spoke about recovery and support after trauma.  

    •  Remarks from founder Jordan Tabor, stressing that resources and help should be visible and accessible for everyone. 

The tone of the evening was about honest conversation, reducing stigma, and empowering people to reach out or act when someone is struggling. The organizers aimed to not just inform but genuinely equip the community with both understanding and practical tools to support those in need.  

Freshman, Austin Olinde, stated "Rick Yarosh talked about his idea of what hope is, and it really stuck with me. He said that hope is an acronym for "Hold on, possibilities exist", and that is a perfect way to describe hope. I think that description could help so many people through whatever they are experiencing, and it makes hope easier to hold onto". 

Junior, Brady Foreman, stated "I absolutely loved it! I loved how faith-based John Foster was; I loved the H.O.P.E. Statement, and loved Clyde's statements during the panel! It was all very inspiring and though I myself do not struggle with mental health, it still helped me with my daily struggles. Thank you for doing it, I've spoken with many friends that said they felt the same way, so thank you!"