Natrona County School District is partnering with Jae’s Foundation to raise suicide awareness through honoring the memory of Jae Bing, a Wyoming native who loved cowboy boots. This year they plan to give high school seniors and staff the opportunity to slow down and get in touch with their mental health by giving them a pair of cowboy boots.
According to Jae’s Website “The Foundation was created with the idea that if Jae’s friend Jason had just slowed down and bought his buddy Jae a pair of Cowboy Boots (something Jae loved dearly), had a real conversation about mental health, depression and suicide, and made two commitments, things could have been different.”
The program will take place Oct 28 for staff and Nov 4-8 for students. Students will be put into small groups and go through “3 Chapters” of Jae’s story and the importance of mental health. They will finish the program being gifted a pair of cowboy boots, to symbolize their commitment to suicide awareness and prevention.
Many students have a positive outlook on the program and are excited to get their own pair of cowboy boots. “I think it’s a really good program because of how it was founded and how it’s come to be and I think that’s a very prominent problem in this world we live in today, so I think what they’re doing is very valuable to the community,” said NC senior Hunter Day.
