Suicide Awareness Month

Students at Pickerington High School speaking to Mr. Matt after class

ACT: Building Hope and Connection for Our Young People

Appreciating their struggles, communicating with care, and building the trust that helps young people seek support

By Matt Hazelwood, Director of the CSC Program

This month focuses on a major issue that has taken the lives of some amazing young people who needed support. At CSC, we believe in providing information when it is needed and understanding whenever we can. Issues affecting our young people are important to CSC because they also affect families, schools, communities, and ultimately the future we are all working to build together.

The approach I want to encourage all of us to take is ACT:

Appreciate. Communicate. Trust.

The ACT process is simple, but it can make a meaningful difference.

Appreciate

We must appreciate that we may not fully understand the challenges faced by the people we encounter every day.

When we say things like, “Be kind to one another,” it sounds good—but what does kindness look like in practice?

Kindness is a brain-building exercise. Every time we pause, consider another person’s feelings, control an impulsive reaction, and choose a helpful response, we practice empathy, self-regulation, perspective-taking, and responsible decision-making.Sometimes the kindest thing we can do is simply notice when someone seems different and let them know they are not alone. Young people do not simply want adults to speak at them—they want adults to listen to them. When students are given a seat at the table and a voice in conversations that affect their lives, they feel valued, respected, and understood. Listening does not mean we will always agree, but it shows them that their experiences matter and that they can be part of creating solutions.

Communicate

Communication is essential for connecting understanding with empathy.

During a school visit, after four days of presentations, a teacher approached me with a concern about the incoming freshmen. She had observed that many of the students struggled to communicate with their peers, particularly with members of the opposite sex.

When the students were asked why they preferred texting or using Snapchat instead of talking face-to-face, it became clear that the core issue was a lack of communication skills.

As I reflected on that conversation, I realized that communication is about much more than speaking—it is about creating connections.

Many young people are more connected through technology than ever before, yet many also feel increasingly isolated. A text message can share information, but it often cannot replace a genuine conversation, a listening ear, or the reassurance that comes from human connection.

We must encourage our young people to have real conversations, ask questions, express their feelings, and seek help when they need it.

Become an Upstander

Another important lesson we emphasize during CSC presentations is the difference between being a bystander and being an Upstander.

When we talk about bullying prevention, we often use the phrase:

“If you see something, say something.”

That message extends far beyond bullying.

Being an Upstander means having the courage to speak up for a friend who may be struggling, check on someone who seems withdrawn, or reach out to a trusted adult when something does not feel right.

Too often, young people carry burdens in silence because they fear judgment or believe nobody will understand. As a community, we have a responsibility to notice, care, and act.

Speaking up for a friend can be the first step toward getting that person the support they need. A simple conversation, a check-in, or alerting a trusted adult can make a life-changing difference.

We should never underestimate the power of showing someone that they matter and do not have to face their challenges alone.

Trust

Trust is the final step—and, in my opinion, it is often the most difficult.

Trust is built over time through consistency, honesty, and showing up for one another. Young people need to know that there are adults in their lives who will listen without judgment and support them without conditions.

They also need to know that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Creating Hope Through the Success Sequence

This message connects directly to the Success Sequence, a pivotal part of the curriculum we present during CSC’s four-day school presentations.

The Success Sequence is built around three

simple but powerful steps:

1. Graduate from high school.

2. Obtain full-time employment.

3. Get married, then have children

Research has consistently shown that individuals who follow this sequence are far more likely to avoid poverty and experience financial stability throughout their lives.

What I appreciate most about the Success Sequence is that it does not just provide information—it provides hope.

It gives young people a roadmap and reminds them that the choices they make today can help shape the opportunities they have tomorrow. In a world where many students feel uncertain about their futures, hope matters.

When young people can see a path forward, they begin to believe success is possible for them.

At CSC, we are not simply sharing statistics or presenting research. We are helping students understand that they have opportunities, purpose, and a future worth investing in.

When our young people have hope for their future, they also have hope for life. That hope can help them persevere through challenges, make positive decisions, build healthy relationships, and continue moving forward when life becomes difficult.

Let’s ACT Together

As the Director of CSC, I have had the privilege of meeting thousands of young people throughout our communities. What I have learned is that every young person wants to feel valued, heard, and connected.

While we may not always have the perfect words or solutions, we can all make a difference by appreciating their struggles, communicating with genuine care, and building trust through our actions.

If each of us commits to ACT every day, we can create environments where young people feel safe enough to speak, strong enough to ask for help, and confident enough to know they never have to face life’s challenges alone.

Sometimes the smallest actions—a conversation, a kind word, checking on a friend, or simply showing up—can have a greater impact than we will ever know.

Let’s continue to be intentional about how we support our young people. They are watching, listening, and learning from us every day.

Together, we can help ensure that hope, connection, understanding, and opportunity are always stronger than isolation.

Need Support?

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If there is an immediate danger, call 911 or contact a trusted adult right away.