Baxter Health Behavioral Health will host a free community event on Saturday, September 12, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Vada Sheid Community Development Center on the ASU-Mountain Home campus. The event, titled “It’s a Tough Subject: A Conversation About Suicide,” is open to the public with no registration required.
Dennis Gillan, founder and executive director of the Half a Sorrow Foundation, will lead the presentation. Gillan is a nationally recognized mental health and suicide prevention speaker who shares his personal story of losing two brothers to suicide. Through his experiences, he aims to equip attendees with tools to recognize signs of distress, start meaningful conversations about mental health, and combat stigma that prevents individuals from seeking help.
“Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States,” said organizers. “Too often, lives are lost because people don’t know how to respond to someone struggling.” Gillan’s presentation focuses on helping participants gain the confidence to take supportive actions.
Jamie Leach, a behavioral health and community relations specialist at Baxter Health, emphasized the importance of the discussion in north central Arkansas. “This is exactly the kind of conversation our community needs to be having,” Leach said. “Mental health touches every family, and we want people to feel equipped to support the people they love. Dennis Gillan has a gift for opening that door in a way that feels honest and accessible.”
The hour-long presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session. No pre-registration is required to attend. For additional details, contact Jamie Leach at (870) 508-6465 or jleach@baxterregional.org.