Suicide Prevention Group Shares Message With Tulsa Middle School, Junior High Students

A Green Country group aiming to prevent suicide took its message to some middle schoolers and junior high students in Tulsa Friday and showed them how breaking silence just might save someone’s life. 

The founder of Hope is Oxygen said adults need to have the tough conversations with kids today - not tomorrow -but today. 

“Just breathe," said Linda Pulver, founder of Hope is Oxygen. “One breath at a time.” 

An inhale and an exhale can be a lot more work than one might think.  

"When I was in college, you would've thought that I was just a normal person. Actually, very well-known at OSU campus, but inside my world was falling apart," Pulver said.  

Like many others, Pulver has struggled with mental health and said simply breathing can be an accomplishment. She said two friends died by suicide and three family members attempted to. 

"Two of those family members held onto hope. Got the help they needed. And they are alive and thriving today,” Pulver said.  

Superintendent Dr. Boyd Chitwood welcomed Pulver's nonprofit Hope is Oxygen to Mingo Valley Christian School to share personal stories and maybe keep someone else's story going.  

"Another voice speaking another way to say to kids, 'You're going to feel things. It's going to be hard. You're not alone,'" Dr. Chitwood said.  

According to the CDC, suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 34. Pulver said the conversation starts young and that it might look different for every age group.  

"The faces of suicide knows no gender, race, age, socioeconomic status, number of followers," Pulver said. 

Hope Is Oxygen worked with the middle school and junior high students to teach them about struggles and self-worth. Mingo Valley 8th grader Jadyn Williams was one of them.  

"I just love that I'm able to be there for my friends and help them through whatever they're going through, and I just want to be a light for them," Williams said.  

Pulver said junior high is tough and that sometimes you have to take life breath by breath.  

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, you can visit Hope Is Oxygen’s website here or the Suicide Prevention Resource Center Oklahoma website here for more resources.

It is our policy to provide resources for anybody considering self-harm when reporting about a situation involving suicide or a suicide attempt. 

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a certified listener, call 1-800-273-8255.

The Veterans Crisis Line and Military Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 (Press 1) connect veterans and service members in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text.

Crisis Text Line is a texting service for emotional crisis support. To speak with a trained listener, text HELLO to 741741. It is free, available 24/7, and confidential.