SPTS Youth Council Hosts Sold Out Concert for a Cause

By: Community Magazine | November 5, 2020 | Philanthropy , Events | Atlantic Highlands

FEATURED PHOTO CREDIT: Tom Zapcic Photography

New Jersey based teen suicide prevention organization helps teens in the midst of COVID-19

The Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide (SPTS) Youth Council hosted its first ever drive-in concert Concert for a Cause. The event was supported by The Atlantic Highlands Recreation Committee in conjunction with SPTS and School of Rock – Red Bank. All proceeds from the event directly support the SPTS Youth Council.

The Concert was held at the Atlantic Highlands Marina Parking Lot in Atlantic Highlands. The line-up included three New Jersey based high-school rock bands and the Red Bank School of Rock House Band. In between sets, members of the SPTS Youth Council spoke about the importance of opening up about mental health and reducing the stigma that comes along with it.

“No one deserves to be another statistic. The Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide has taught me that we all need to make a change,” shared Jessica Sweet, SPTS Youth Council member and Event Committee member. “Openly talking about mental health needs to be more common in everyday life.”

All attendees received a playbill with resource listings, information on the SPTS Youth Council and goodies from 2nd Floor Youth Helpline, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Monmouth County Stigma Free Initiative, Feeling Swell and SPTS. The concert was limited to 50 cars and each car had two designated parking spots to adhere to social distancing regulations. Masks were required if attendees were outside of the vehicles.

The SPTS Youth Council is a program that began in 2015 for high school students in Monmouth and Ocean County. Students collaborate with SPTS staff and volunteers to work on suicide prevention projects, learn resiliency and helping skills, and act as SPTS ambassadors in the prevention process. SPTS also offers $2,000 scholarships to three graduating seniors in the program. Since 2015, more than 400 high school students have participated in the Youth Council.

For more information about The Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide (SPTS), visit sptsusa.org.