DAVIS COUNTY—Suicide is the second leading cause of death in children ages 10-14 in the U.S. and third leading cause of death among young people ages 15-24, according to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). September is recognized by NAMI as Suicide Prevention Month and Sept. 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. A day observed worldwide every year on this date as a time to make a commitment and action to prevent suicides.

Locally, North Davis Project Illumination’s mission is to offer parents the resources they need to connect with their children about suicide and mental health.

“The idea started in 2019,” said Founder and President Kurtis Fredricks. “It was really for my oldest daughter. She was struggling and her friends at school were struggling.” 

There was a school assembly about suicide and mental illness and she came home and said it was so depressing, said Fredricks. “It didn’t have the impact it should have and I thought ‘we’ve got to get together as a community.’ I don’t feel as a community that we talk about it, specifically with youth. We need to get them to understand how to be mentally healthy and when their parents see what they’re doing they might apply it to themselves.”

Kurtis met with the North Davis Communities that Care Coalition and (NuHope Suicide Prevention Task Force) to discuss the idea of creating an event led by teenagers that had fun activities and interactive ways to address mental health, said Illumination Board Member Glady Larsen. “The event was supposed to take place in May 2020. But we all know what happened then. We moved it to September which fell into Suicide Prevention Month.”

However, it wasn’t possible to hold an in-person event so they held a virtual event, Larsen said. “It was such a great opportunity for us to reach out as parents together and connect to start the conversation with our children and youth.”

“We wanted youth to teach youth,” said Fredricks. “A lot is planned by the youth. I think it’s more impactful when their peers are saying it. They follow each other more than adults.”

A youth committee was formed in 2023, he said. “It’s been a wonderful addition. We ask them who they’d like as the keynote speaker and they help choose the entertainment. Sometimes adults make recommendations but then it’s voted on by the youth.”

Youth involvement started when they invited youth groups like HOPE Squads and Latinos in Action, said Fredricks. “A lot spread by word of mouth. We reached out mostly to school organizations but some religious youth groups came out to participate. Some people choose to do it as a service project.”

 The youth are starting to see the value in it, he said. “They want to be involved with the event. Last year 4,500 attended. We expect even more this year.”

The driving message behind Project Illumination is that everyone has a spark, Fredricks said. “That’s where you see kids thrive is when they can go after their spark, to have a purpose in life. It’s important to give youth the opportunity to find their spark and grow and nourish it. Everyone has something to contribute.” 

“We all have something that inspires us,” said Larsen. “Something that gets us up in the morning. It can be a talent, a passion, something we enjoy doing. It’s so critical when we have a passion to connect to others who have like passions. That’s what gives meaning to life – to find joy every single day.”

This year’s event is Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. at Founders Park, 1609 S. 2000 West in Syracuse.