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Mental Health Community Featuring  Documentary to Spread Hope, Fight Suicide

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That’s 20 young people dying every day in the U.S. alone.

A suicide attempt left 16-year-old varsity cheerleader Emma Benoit paralyzed, but propelled her on a mission to use her painful experience to help others find hope and shine more light on the fact that 20 young people die every day by suicide in the United States.

“My Ascension” is a feature-length documentary that chronicles Emma’s inspiring journey and quest to walk again, as she works to bring Hope Squad, a school-based suicide prevention program, to Louisiana. The film also highlights the stories of two remarkable young people who tragically did not survive their attempts, and we learn first-hand from their families, friends, school officials and suicide prevention experts about the devastating effects of suicide and what can be done to prevent it.

A group of community partners, including Polara Health, MATFORCE, Suicide Prevention Coalition of Yavapai County, Community Counts AZ and Yavapai College are working together to increase awareness and talk about suicide prevention during Mental Health Awareness Month in May.

As part of the effort, the community is invited to a free showing of My Ascension at 5 p.m., Wednesday, May 11, at the Yavapai College Performing Arts Center. The 90-minute film will be followed by a virtual question and answer session with Emma and the filmmaker, Greg Dicharry.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health’s most current data from 2018,  approximately 7,600 young people under the age of 25 died by suicide that year. That’s 20 young people dying every day in the U.S. alone.

If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 or text the Crisis Text Line – HELLO to 741741. QCBN

By Deanna Eder

Deanna Eder is the director of marketing and development for Polara Health. She can be reached at d.eder@polarahealth.com

Sound Check

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Live entertainment venues test demand; some concerts have limited capacity.

Music and dancing has returned to the Quad Cities area and is starting to return to the Flagstaff area, with a lot more planned for May. The scheduling of more live music gives musicians, venue owners and customers hope for the future.

Prescott area venues never totally shut down the music during the pandemic, but solos or duos were playing instead of bands, and there was no dancing on the dance floor, per the safety protocols in place.

Sidekicks Lounge in Prescott Valley and Jersey Lilly on the square in Prescott are just two places where the owners are thrilled to be in the process of bringing music back to normal levels. Other entertainment venues, like the Highlands Center for Natural History, are also bringing back music.

The Northern Arizona Blues Alliance will host the first annual Greater Prescott Valley Blues Festival in the Prescott Valley Amphitheater from 1-9 p.m., Saturday, May 22. The lineup includes national acts such as Kat Riggs and Jimmy Carpenter, as well as local performers Ray DeSylvester, Leon J, Dr. Bob Sellani, Christian Berry, Paul Epoch, Tommy Dukes, Darryl Poras and Sir Harrison.

Mortimer Farms in Dewey has scheduled its Friday Night Barn Dance and dinner from May 7 to Oct. 30.

The Highlands Center for Natural History has scheduled its monthly concert series starting May 28, starting with Art Podell, one of the original musicians with the New Christie Minstrels. The Acoustic Eidolon duo will perform July 2. Prescott folk band Ponderosa Grove will perform July 24. Shakespeare in the Pines is scheduled during the middle two weeks in August and Acoustic Blues is on the calendar for Sept. 24.

Folk Sessions at the Highlands Center for Natural History has its ninth annual Americana Music Fest set for July 22, featuring “Southwestern Americana,” tales of Nancy Elliot, the Robby Robertson Trio and the Valley’s Hambone. Concert host Highlands Center Marketing and Communications Coordinator Tom Agostino said the pandemic impacted the center quite a bit. “We had to cancel our summer series last year,” he said.

This season, they will sell 70 tickets for each show, as compared to 120 for each show before the pandemic.

Laura Lee Morgan, who, with her husband, John, owns Sidekicks Saloon in Prescott Valley, said the community needs live music because people thrive on interaction. “It was depressing not having it,” she said. “It’s great having it back. That’s why we’re in the business.”

Jersey Lilly Saloon owner Josh Makrauer says that although the past year has been difficult, as the venue lost about 50% of its business, he is excited to be able to provide some fun music for the patrons.

Sidekicks has live bands every Saturday and karaoke on Friday and Sunday nights. The schedule for Saturdays in May has Parker Jenkins on May 8, Shake of Yesterday on May 15, Hit Squad on May 22 and Honey Girl on May 29.

Jersey Lilly has music almost every night. Sky performs every Tuesday, Little Larry every Thursday and there are jam sessions every Wednesday. Bands perform every weekend, with Hit Squad the first weekend in May, Combo Deluxe the second weekend in May, Little Larry and the Drive the third weekend in May, the Tone Kings the fourth weekend in May and Well Dressed Wolves the last weekend in May. Weekend shows are from 7-10 p.m.; weekday shows 8-10 p.m., and Sunday solos perform from 4-7 p.m. QCBN

By Stan Bindell, QCBN