Efforts to combat youth suicide in Tarrant County have yielded remarkable results, with a reported reduction of over 70% in suicides among K-12 students during the 2024-25 school year. This significant improvement is attributed to initiatives spearheaded by the Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation, which has implemented comprehensive suicide prevention training across the region.
At a recent luncheon, Matthew Vereecke, CEO of the foundation, expressed optimism about the ongoing progress. “We are making amazing progress. But the fight isn’t even close to being over,” he stated. As of April 2024, the foundation has established programs in 136 schools that focus on training students to identify peers at risk and providing extensive training for educators. The foundation connects schools with community resources to further support mental health initiatives.
The success in Tarrant County has attracted attention from organizations in other cities. The Sam Asbury Foundation in Atlanta and the Matt Harbin Foundation in Austin are set to adopt similar models within the next year. Vereecke emphasized that while the foundation’s primary mission is to serve Tarrant County, sharing effective strategies can help other regions tackle youth suicide effectively.
The Sam Asbury Foundation was established in memory of Sam Asbury, who died by suicide in February 2020. His father, David Asbury, sought to raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention. “We wanted to bring attention to mental health and suicide,” he said. The foundation has already initiated fundraising efforts, including a golf tournament that raised $140,000 in its inaugural year.
Asbury and executive director Stephanie Johnston connected with the Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation last summer, expressing a keen interest in replicating their training model in Georgia. Their first training session took place at the Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, where participants reported feeling empowered by the knowledge gained.
In Austin, the Matt Harbin Foundation, founded by Brett Harbin after the loss of his brother Matt to suicide in 2018, aims to implement similar programs. Harbin’s vision is to enhance mental health support in schools, drawing inspiration from the work of the Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation. He has already engaged with local school districts interested in adopting these initiatives.
Despite the significant progress, Vereecke acknowledged that the work is far from complete. As of November 2024, the Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation operates in nearly 160 schools, with the goal of expanding to every school in Tarrant County. “Suicide doesn’t care about where you live,” he remarked, highlighting the need for universal access to resources.
The foundation is also focusing on reducing school dropout rates by exploring partnerships with faith-based organizations to reach at-risk students. “It’s tough to design a solution that’s going to fix one or two or three student deaths when they don’t have a whole lot in common,” Vereecke explained. He pointed out the common issue of inadequate access to resources as a critical factor in youth suicides.
As these initiatives evolve, the Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation remains committed to its mission of saving lives in Tarrant County while supporting similar efforts in other regions. By sharing effective practices and fostering collaboration, the foundation aims to combat the ongoing challenge of youth suicide across the nation.
