Suspenders4Hope & HOPE Services

Suspenders4Hope is a comprehensive, strategic approach to promoting mental wellness and preventing suicide, substance abuse and sexual violence. Showcasing real stories of hope, help-seeking and resiliency, Suspenders4Hope aims to increase connections and end the stigma surrounding mental health.

Wichita State University started the #WeSupportU Suspenders4Hope Mental Wellness and Suicide Prevention Program in 2015 when the Counseling and Prevention Services team was awarded a SAMSHA Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention grant. The strength of the #WeSupportU program is the combination of an evidence-based training, advocate program, wellness curriculum and the Suspenders4Hope awareness campaign to help create a culture that supports mental health and encourages wellness.

The program remains an integral part of the University’s mental wellness outreach efforts and encourages us to continue developing high-quality, engaging content at an affordable price for anyone interested in supporting community mental health and preventing suicide.

Now, you can help support Suspenders4Hope and efforts to provide these training materials and mental wellness resources in the community: $20 supports a free Preventing Suicide Training and Suspenders4Hope shirt for one person. $50 supports a Suspenders4Hope kit for someone recently hospitalized for a mental health crisis. $250 supports a free in-person community training and Suspenders4Hope shirts for all attendees. $5,000 supports the comprehensive Suspenders4Hope Mental Wellness and Suicide Prevention Program at a high school or college. $25,000 supports Suspenders4Hope kits for all patients for one year at a crisis center or local hospital.

Many people struggle with suicidal thoughts and moments of suicidal crisis. While one life lost to suicide is one too many, more than 99.5% of people also recover from suicidality. When equipped with helpful information, many of us may have an opportunity to not only help ourselves overcome mental health challenges, but also to support a friend, family member, coworker and others during a crisis. And for those who have lost a loved one to suicide, the training can help make sense of the loss and promote healing in an accepting space.

Together with #WeSupportU Suspenders4Hope, organizations across all industries, sizes and structures can implement this comprehensive prevention program. Increasing impact and reducing costs allows workplace teams to focus on their core missions while providing staff with important resources to support their mental health.