Kolby Kay3

Teen Suicide Prevention with Kolby Kay

In Oct. 2018, Washington County resident Kolby Kolibas (aka Kolby Kay) froze when his daughter asked if he’d seen the Facebook live video of the local child who'd died by suicide.

It was all Kolby needed to initiate “the trigger to start paying attention,” he said.

As child after child began dying via suicide, Kolibas couldn't help but wonder, “What would cause an 11 or 12-year old to feel like they had nothing, no hope left?”

Those experiences prompted Kolibas — a speaker, author and entrepreneur — to dive into an eight-month-long research process with his fiance, Alisa Burnham. They couldn't not act. They knew they had to do something.

So, they created A Life Worth Living, a self-funded docuseries focused on bringing awareness, resources and help specific to teen suicide prevention. Support Kolby's crowdfunding campaign here. Listen in as I talk with Kolby about this tragic issue - and what we can all do to better support teens that are suffering.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN

  • Some shocking statistics on teen suicide (1:00)
  • The reasons teens commit suicide (11:00)
  • Some of the warning signs for suicidal teens (13:00)
  • How to offer support to a suicidal teen (15:00)
  • About Kolby’s groundbreaking documentary series (55:00)

Some Questions I Ask

  • What is the main cause of teen suicide? (11:00)
  • What are some of the warning signs? (13:00)
  • What are some steps we can take to support a suicidal teen? (15:00)
  • What are some practical things people can do to connect? (45:00)
  • Do you think there is a connection between teen suicide and fatherless homes? (51:00)

CONNECT WITH ME

 

“If I can get one kid somewhere every single day to say ‘I’m going to go another day,’ then every dollar, every piece of heartache, (will be worth it).”
- Kolby Kay