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State agencies and private sector launch effort to reduce suicide

Table of Contents

  1. The T3-Time to Talk Program
  2. State and Community Partners
  3. The Prevention Curriculum
  4. Business Community Involvement
  5. Program Goals and Expansion

Oklahoma City — The Oklahoma National Guard is helping to lead a collaborative community-based effort to reduce the number of suicides among school-aged children and young adults. The pilot project titled “T3-Time to Talk” will launch in four area school districts later this month, raising public awareness and providing tools for the prevention of suicides among young people.

The campaign officially kicks off when the Southmoore Sabercats host the Carl Albert Titans in the season’s first football game in Moore, Okla. Players from both teams will wear neon green socks, towels, and wristbands with the “T3-Time to Talk” logo. It is hoped that the players’ actions on the field will be the first step toward raising awareness about this critically important issue.

The T3-Time to Talk Program

The Oklahoma National Guard joins forces with the Oklahoma Departments of Mental Health and Education, state-based non-profit organizations, and a number of corporate sponsors. Their objective is to teach a suicide prevention curriculum this year in the public schools. The non-profit organizations include A Chance to Change, Central Oklahoma Turning Point, Goodwill, and Operation Home Front.

“We have way too many young people, some of them very young, who are taking their own lives,” said Maj. Gen. Myles Deering, the adjutant general for Oklahoma. “One suicide is one too many and I think it’s important that we work together to reduce these tragedies. I believe working together, we can make a difference.”

State and Community Partners

The Edmond, Moore, Putnam City, and Mid/Del school districts will present the curriculum, which focuses on suicide prevention and building resiliency in schools and communities. The course teaches elementary, middle school, and high school students with age-appropriate material for each age bracket.

“In recent years, we’ve had heartbreaking news accounts of school-aged children committing suicide,” said state superintendent Janet Barresi. “We welcome this initiative by the Oklahoma National Guard and partner agencies to bring needed education and resources into our schools and to shine a light of hope for our students.”

The Prevention Curriculum

Last year, 178 Oklahomans under the age of 30 took their own lives, according to Oklahoma vital statistics. By 2018, T3-Time to Talk goals include reducing the number of suicides and suicide attempts by 50 percent and increasing awareness across Oklahoma about this troubling issue.

The T3-TimeToTalk.com website provides the pilot schools with promotional items — including stickers, wristbands, bumper stickers, and posters — designed to get teachers and students talking about mental health and suicide prevention.

Commissioner Terri White at the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) says the state has invested additional resources in suicide prevention. Governor Mary Fallin championed the addition of funding for suicide prevention initiatives during the past legislative session.

“We have undertaken several initiatives to address suicide prevention,” said White. “This is one of many efforts that are making a lasting impact on communities statewide. Partnership is the key, and this program is a great step in the right direction. Together, we can make a difference.”

Business Community Involvement

The Oklahoma business community will play a part in making a positive change to reduce the number of suicides in the state, according to Gerry Shepherd, CEO and president of Oklahoma Roofing & Sheet Metal, LLC.

“I knew our Soldiers were having problems upon returning from overseas and their suicide rates were high, but after I got involved I found the problem went far deeper than I had originally thought,” said Shepherd. “It was not only a big problem with our Soldiers, but was also an issue affecting way too many school-aged kids. It’s terribly important that we all come together as a community to meet this problem head-on and reduce the number of needless deaths.”

Program Goals and Expansion

State officials plan to expand the T3-Time to Talk program over the coming years to every school district in Oklahoma. The model developed in the initial four-district pilot — combining age-appropriate education, community partnerships, and visible public messaging — is designed to be scalable without requiring significant new infrastructure.

The T3 initiative reflects a growing understanding that suicide prevention is most effective when it is embedded in community culture rather than addressed only in clinical settings. By anchoring the program in schools, athletic events, and local business partnerships, organizers hope to normalize conversations about mental health and reduce the stigma that prevents many individuals from seeking help.

Oklahoma National Guard leadership has emphasized that this effort is not just a one-time campaign but a long-term commitment. The goal is to build a statewide culture where teachers, coaches, parents, and community members feel empowered to recognize warning signs and respond with compassion and competence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the T3-Time to Talk initiative?

T3-Time to Talk is a community-based suicide prevention program launched by the Oklahoma National Guard in partnership with state agencies, non-profit organizations, and private sector businesses. It was designed to reduce suicides among school-aged children and young adults through public awareness and education.

The program's first year focused on four area school districts — Edmond, Moore, Putnam City, and Mid-Del — where age-appropriate suicide prevention curricula were introduced at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels.

Why did the Oklahoma National Guard get involved in suicide prevention?

The Oklahoma National Guard recognized that suicide was affecting not only returning service members but also the broader community, including young people. Maj. Gen. Myles Deering, the adjutant general for Oklahoma, stated that 'one suicide is one too many' and that collaborative action was essential to making a difference.

The Guard's involvement also reflected the reality that military culture and community culture overlap in Oklahoma, where Guard membership is widespread and many families have multiple generations of service. Addressing mental health in schools was seen as part of the same continuum as supporting returning veterans.

How many young Oklahomans die by suicide each year?

According to Oklahoma vital statistics cited at the time of the T3 launch, 178 Oklahomans under the age of 30 took their own lives in the preceding year. This number represented a significant public health challenge that state officials, mental health professionals, and community organizations were determined to address.

The T3-Time to Talk program set an ambitious goal: to reduce the number of suicides and suicide attempts in the target population by 50 percent by 2018, while significantly increasing statewide awareness of the issue.

What non-profit organizations participated in the T3 program?

The non-profit partners in the initial T3-Time to Talk launch included A Chance to Change, Central Oklahoma Turning Point, Goodwill, and Operation Home Front. These organizations contributed resources, personnel, and expertise in mental health, community outreach, and youth development.

The program also received support from the Oklahoma Departments of Mental Health and Education, and was championed at the state level by Governor Mary Fallin, who supported the addition of funding for suicide prevention initiatives during the legislative session.

How did the business community support the T3 initiative?

Gerry Shepherd, CEO and president of Oklahoma Roofing & Sheet Metal, LLC, became a prominent voice for private sector involvement after learning about the program's scope. He described being surprised to discover that suicide was not only a veterans' issue but a widespread problem among school-aged children as well.

'It was not only a big problem with our Soldiers, but was also an issue affecting way too many school aged kids,' Shepherd said. 'It's terribly important that we all come together as a community to meet this problem head-on and reduce the number of needless deaths.' The business community's role included sponsoring promotional materials and events designed to raise awareness.

How was the T3 program kicked off publicly?

The campaign officially launched during a high school football game in Moore, Oklahoma, where the Southmoore Sabercats hosted the Carl Albert Titans. Players from both teams wore neon green socks, towels, and wristbands bearing the T3-Time to Talk logo, using the visibility of athletic competition to spark public conversations about suicide prevention.

The T3-TimeToTalk.com website provided the pilot schools with promotional materials including stickers, wristbands, bumper stickers, and posters designed to get both teachers and students talking about mental health — bringing the conversation out of clinical settings and into everyday environments.