The Great Falls Ad Club welcomed a special guest speaker on Wednesday to discuss a suicide prevention video that went viral.
Zanen Pitts and Greg Whitesell with the Arlee boys basketball team shared a message about suicide for their Warrior Movement.
The movement focuses on bringing respect back to the community. Pitts said it’s the way he runs the basketball program.
"When you have the platform to talk about things, suicide, depression, and so on, you should take it," Whitesell said. "For us, it was an easy discussion."
The group made a suicide prevention video (below) that has more than 1.1 million views at this time and even grabbed the attention of the New York Times.
Pitts said it’s only the beginning of the movement.
"That’s kind of the goal right now with it. We have some more PSAs, we have a warrior challenge we are working on, but we are trying to keep the ripple effect," he said. "This is where every few weeks to every few months we come out with something new. That way it is not just a bombshell and it’s over. We want this thing to last."
If you or someone else needs to talk to someone, the Montana Suicide Prevention hotline is 406-453-4357 or text ‘Montana’ to 741-741.
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- Youth suicide in Montana
- Zero Suicide Initiative: Suicide Survivor
- Americans living in rural areas more likely to commit suicide
If you are in crisis and want help, call the Montana Suicide Prevention Lifeline anytime at 1-800-273-TALK or text “MT” to 741741
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SUICIDE PREVENTION RESOURCES
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