Hebron resident Debbie Zegarra lost her son, Ethan, to suicide nearly five years ago. And since that time, she’s dedicated herself to promoting mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
“It’ll be five years Sept. 29,” Zegarra said. “He was 16 at the time. We took part of his college fund and some donations from the community and started Ethan’s Purpose.”
Ethan’s Purpose is a local non-profit foundation that seeks to help other families who may be struggling with the same challenges Ethan faced – such as anxiety, depression and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Zegarra said.
“Suicide is so preventable, but we don’t talk about that,” Zegarra said. “We don’t talk about our mental health, but it’s just as important as maintaining our physical heath.”
It is essential to learn to identify how you’re feeling, how to regulate your feelings, and place strategies when stressed – actions critical to getting through tough times, Zegarra, a Boone County Schools educator, said.Â
To that end, Ethan’s Purpose initially focused on targeted partnerships with licensed counselors in the community, pairing them with local schools to conduct small group counseling sessions, organizers said.Â
“This is our fourth year of doing that and we’ve serviced 250 kids at this point,” Zegarra said, adding the effort seeks to aid school counseling personnel. “It’s all free to the kids and the families, in addition to being anonymous. By the end of the school year, we’ll be in eight Boone County schools providing services for students.”
The Ethan’s Purpose outreach has expanded to suicide prevention training sessions offered to schools and faculty, aiding 4,000 students and 450 school staff members, and scholarship funds earmarked for graduating high school seniors interested in pursuing mental health studies.Â
“We’re trying to evolve as we see the needs arise,” Zegarra said. “We’re also implementing a funding request for teachers that want to do social, emotional learning in their classrooms.”
Florence resident Melanie Schwartz said the foundation’s willingness to stand in the gap is commendable.
“They’re doing great work that will have a lasting impact,” Schwartz said. “We’re talking about work that will save lives. You give credit to folks who are filling a void and truly doing a life’s work.”
As a volunteer-driven endeavor, Ethan’s Purpose thrives on the community embracing the foundation’s goals and objectives, which Zegarra said include sponsorships and donor generosity.
The fourth annual Ethan’s Purpose 5K Run/Walk is set for 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9, at Hebron’s North Pointe Elementary School.
“We have a lot of fun activities for the kids,” Zegarra said. “We have face painting, a selfie booth and music. Some people run, some walk, some bring their dogs and their strollers. It’s just a good day to spend time together.”
Some who will be in attendance for Saturday’s event have attempted suicide and survived, Zegarra said.
“They come back every year and bring friends,” Zegarra said. “They’ve overcome their challenges and they want to support other people who might be walking the same path.”
For more information about Ethan’s Purpose or to register for the 5K event, visit the Ethan’s Purpose website at ethanspurpose.org.