Dear Coug Family,
 
"Yesterday is gone, tomorrow has yet to come. We have only today. Let us begin." 
--Mother Theresa
 
As we enter the month of September tomorrow, we also begin National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and join with campuses around the nation in educating our students, faculty, staff and community on the warning signs of suicide.  This year, our efforts in Athletics are more personal, with the loss of Tyler Hilinski last January.  
 
Suicide is a national crisis and now the second-leading cause of death among 15-24 year olds.  Over the past several months, our student-athletes, coaches and staff, have been working together to create an environment and culture filled with hope, positivity and healing.  We have partnered with the JED Foundation, nationally-recognized experts in protecting emotional health and preventing suicide in our nation's teens and young adults.  JED has not only educated us on best practices to help our students but also has been instrumental in helping us understand the best ways for us to honor Tyler and to prevent suicides.  We must keep suicide and mental health awareness at the forefront of our thoughts and conversations, not just in the coming month, but in the years ahead.  We must also remind one another that we are not alone and that help is an ask away.
 
The Cougs are unified in our commitment to making a difference and on impacting and reducing suicide rates on campus—and around the nation.  Our incredible student-athletes created a Public Service Announcement to share the message of suicide prevention, and I encourage you to watch the PSA and share it with others. 


  
In the coming weeks, we will do our part to raise awareness and to honor Tyler in several ways:
 

• In recognition of National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, we will paint purple and turquoise ribbons on our football field to bring greater awareness to suicide prevention.
• We will display a Hilinski Hope flag in Martin Stadium throughout the 2018 season to not only honor Tyler, but to again, raise awareness of mental health.
• Each WSU football player will have a #3 decal affixed to their helmet.
• On September 8, prior to our home football game against San Jose State, Tyler's family will help us raise the Cougar Flag for a moment of healing, hope, positivity and love.
• WSU Athletics has partnered with Hilinski's Hope to bring two very important programs to campus on September 9.  Behind Happy Faces normalizes the concept of mental health and empowers participants to take charge of their lives.  Step Up! is a bystander intervention program that educates students on how to be proactive in helping others.
• On September 13, we will welcome former Coug Ryan Leaf back to campus to share his honest and poignant journey through life reminding us all that we are not alone in our struggles.

 
Additional programs and initiatives will be shared in the coming weeks.
 
If you are struggling, I encourage you to ask for help.  If a friend or loved one is struggling, please do not hesitate to offer to help.
 
Just some of the resources available to those in need:

• The National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255
• The Pullman 24-hour crisis line 509-334-1133
• Information about the mission and work of the JED Foundation can be found at www.jedfoundation.org
• Information about the mission and work of Hilinski's Hope can be found at www.hilinskishope.org

 
Together, I know that we can make a difference.
 
Go Cougs!
 
Sincerely,
 
 
Pat Chun
Director of Athletics