Each year, Jesuit High School Sacramento joins schools and communities across the United States in observing National Suicide Prevention Week. The week, centered around National Suicide Prevention Day, offers the time to shine a light on this heavy topic and works to combat the stigma around suicide.

Jesuit’s mental health club, TeamCARE, is behind the itinerary for this week, which starts on Monday, Sept. 8. 

“There will be a schoolwide assembly that all students and parents are asked to attend,” said Wellness Counselor Mrs. Kasey Cardinale. “Jesuit celebrates awareness and suicide prevention every school year [and] these national speakers will bring hope to our community in a new way. Capital Therapy Dogs will be located on the senior lawn directly following the assembly for students to enjoy.”

TeamCARE President Brady McMains ’26 has been instrumental in the planning process. He hopes that the events will allow people to think deeper about the topic of suicide.

“I don’t think that suicide is a very prominent thing in a lot of people’s minds because it’s not real to people until it happens to them,” Brady said. “While the bracelets and the hotlines and the posters and all that has been extremely helpful in making the little changes that need to happen, we need something big that is going to make people think. Personally, and TeamCARE as a whole, really believes that [suicide] needs to be something that people aren’t afraid to talk about.”

A central part of the week’s plans is the speaker event. Taking place on Sept. 9, it will feature guest speakers Sgt. Kevin Briggs and Kevin Berthia.

Sgt. Briggs is a retired California Highway Patrol sergeant, whose career included spending many years patrolling the Golden Gate Bridge.

“While on patrol, [Sgt. Briggs] encountered numerous individuals who had lost all hope and were contemplating suicide,” Mrs. Cardinale said. “Through compassion and the ability to ‘Listen to Understand,’ he encouraged several hundred individuals over his career not to end their lives but to begin a new chapter.”

Kevin Berthia, who is a Suicide Survivor, Advocate, and Speaker, will serve as a joint speaker with Sgt. Briggs.

“Kevin pours his heart into sharing his powerful story of growing up in silence, always feeling the need to hide the unbearable pain he was in,” Mrs. Cardinale said. “Since 2013, Kevin has captivated his audiences with his candidness about how he was able to overcome his pain and fully embrace himself in order to live his best life.”

Brady hopes that the presentation will highlight that help is always accessible.

“The main goal of [the presentation] is to show students that there’s help available and there’s ways out,” Brady said. “I think [both speakers] are going to share their own perspectives on things and really hone in on what help is available both in terms of at Jesuit and that’s offered just in general.”

National Suicide Prevention Week plays an important part in raising awareness for suicide prevention in our community. In addition to taking part in the many activities TeamCARE offers this week, take time to check on your community as well.