Suicide Prevention & Awareness Speaker

Speaking Engagement Promotional Materials for Chelsea Stout, Founder of Endure Life

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Mental health advocate to speak on suicide awareness

Every 40 seconds a life is lost to suicide. Chelsea Stout, the founder of Endure Life, lost both their childhood best friend and brother to suicide before the age of 25.

“I thought I was the only one suffering. Even the people affected by the same suicide refused to talk about it. It was as if the person I was mourning had never existed to them,” Stout said. “This reaction – or lack of a reaction – from those I relied on meant I never had a safe place to open up.”

For years, Stout buried their anxieties however they could. Whether it was by using substances or by overachieving in school and sports, they did anything to make sure their mind was never quiet. Those demons eventually caught up with them, and this time they chose to act. Stout created the Instagram handle @Endure_Life where they began to process complicated experiences by starting unfiltered conversations about mental health and suicide.

“I wanted to do something to fight against the stigma and show that being a suicide survivor and struggling with a mental illness is a life-long process of pain and healing,” Stout said. “I wanted to remind people to not take those around them for granted, and to know that simply reaching out in a genuine way means the world to someone feeling alone.”

Following a student suicide on a local college campus, Stout partnered with student leaders to mobilize campus awareness about suicide prevention. Stout also expanded their online presence into a blog and a sustainable apparel shop. Now on the ground in Seattle, Stout and their partner advocate for mental health resources for at-risk populations through grassroots campaigns, a retail shop, and local partnerships.

Stout will be tuning in virtually for remarks and a Q&A on Monday, Nov. 15 at 3:30 p.m. via Microsoft Teams. The online presentation will include how to identify warning signs of suicidality, navigate support for an at-risk person, understand your own mental health, and more.

“This is information I wish I had available to me when I was young because I know it will save lives,” Stout said. “My hope is to teach others how to better understand how they can help those around them and help those mental health advocates to know that they are not alone on their journey. Those that listen need someone to listen; those that check in on you, need to be checked in on; and those that lift you up, sometimes need to be lifted up.”

All are invited to learn more about Endure Life and submit questions in advance here to help the speaker customize their presentation.

“This is a unique opportunity for our organization to speak with someone who has dedicated their life to suicide awareness and education,” said David Lairmore, CPS psychologist. “It can be challenging to broach this topic with those experiencing suicidality and meet them on their level. It will be valuable for anyone to hear Chelsea’s story and learn from their experience.”