The Suicide Prevention Tour

Breaking through the Stigma

Our Mission

The Suicide Prevention Tour aims to raise awareness and provide life-saving mental health tools by reaching:

  • 2,500 individuals through in-person workshops during a 2-week national tour
  • 125,000+ individuals through continued community engagement and resource distribution over the following 9 months

Tour Details

6 Cities | 12 Days | September Tour

Confirmed Stops:

  • Los Angeles – Sept 22
  • San Diego – Sept 23
  • Denver – Sept 25
  • Chicago – Sept 27
  • New York – Sept 29
  • Maryland (Tentative) – Oct 1

Additional cities under consideration:

Austin, Dallas, Seattle, Atlanta, San Francisco

Event Experience

(Per City)

  • 350–500 attendees Half-day event (with breakfast or lunch)
  • 2-hour suicide prevention training
  • Tools & resources from Mental Health CODE, Reasons to Stay, and clinical experts.
  • Fireside chat + Q&A with Ben (IamBenWest) & Kelly Hager (Founder, Mental Health CODE)

Fireside Chat with Ben west

A Conversation That Moves Beyond Awareness

At the heart of each tour stop is a powerful, live conversation designed to go deeper than statistics and surface-level awareness. This fireside chat brings together voices who are actively shaping the way we understand mental health, stigma, and support in today’s world.

Featuring Ben West and Mental Health Code Founder, Kelly Hager, this conversation creates space for honesty, lived experience, and practical insight. Together, they explore what it really means to break through the stigma, not just in theory, but in everyday life, relationships, and communities.

This is not a lecture. It’s a moment of connection, reflection, and real dialogue.

A MEssage From Ben West

Ben West is an internationally recognized mental health advocate, speaker, and founder of Reasons to Stay, a movement dedicated to breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide prevention. Known for his honest, compassionate, and deeply relatable approach, Ben has built a global audience of more than 900,000 followers and reached millions through powerful conversations centered on emotional wellbeing, resilience, and human connection.

Through social media, public speaking, and community engagement, Ben has become a leading voice for a generation seeking more open and authentic discussions around mental health. His work encourages people to speak openly, seek support without shame, and remember that even in difficult moments, there are always reasons to stay. By combining lived experience, empathy, and advocacy, Ben continues to inspire meaningful change and create spaces where people feel seen, heard, and supported.

A Message From Ben West

Our Panel

Kelly Hager

Kelly Hager is the founder of Mental Health Code and a passionate advocate for trauma-informed mental health education and community support. Her work focuses on reducing stigma, increasing understanding, and helping individuals and organizations create safer, more compassionate conversations around mental health and emotional wellbeing.

Sonya Patton

Sonya Patton is a transformational leader, educator, and lead Mental Health Code instructor who equips individuals and communities with tools that turn awareness into action, advocacy into practice, and change into lasting impact. Through education, leadership, and compassionate engagement, she is committed to helping people build stronger, healthier, and more connected communities.

Shannon Martinez

Shannon Martinez is a disabled Veteran, Registered Nurse, and Mental Health Code Advocate and Instructor who is passionate about spreading awareness, breaking stigma, and helping more people approach mental health with compassion, understanding, and empathy. Her work is grounded in service, advocacy, and creating safe spaces for honest conversations and healing.

Jorge Sandoval

Jorge Sandoval is a dedicated school leader and community advocate committed to building strong, supportive environments where students, families, and communities can grow, connect, and thrive. Through leadership, mentorship, and community engagement, he works to create spaces centered on confidence, care, collaboration, and shared purpose.

Meredith McNearny

Meredith McNerney is a professional learning consultant, speaker, and educational leader with experience in leadership development, social-emotional learning, and community-centered education initiatives. Her work focuses on creating supportive learning environments and helping organizations implement strategies that foster connection, wellbeing, and long-term growth across diverse communities.

Why This Matters

  • Suicide is a leading public health crisis in the U.S.
  • 49,500 deaths in 2022 (record high)
  • 2nd leading cause of death (ages 10–34)
  • Over 800,000 lives lost between 2000–2020

Sponsorship Opportunities

  • Premier (4): $100,000
  • Gold (8): $50,000
  • Silver (12): $25,000
  • Bronze (16): $10,000

Join Us!

This tour is more than awareness. it’s action.
Together, we can break stigma, provide support, and save lives.

Be part of the movement.
Support, attend, or partner with us today.

Where Science Meets Humanity

Our Philosophy

At Mental Health Code, we believe mental health must be understood through both a scientific and human lens. Our work is grounded in education led by PhD-level mental health professionals, while remaining deeply compassionate and accessible. We aim to shift the conversation beyond outdated views that focus only on behavior or willpower.

Mental Health is Both Biological & Behavioral

Mental health is not just about actions or choices—it is also deeply biological.

  • The amygdala, the brain’s fear center, plays a key role in anxiety
  • When dysregulated, it can trigger fear responses even in non-threatening situations
  • This is not a character flaw—it is a physiological process.

At the same time, behavioral factors—such as thoughts, environment, and relationships—also shape mental well-being.

Our approach integrates both

Why This Matters

Understanding the science behind mental health:


  • Reduces shame and embarrassment
  • Encourages open conversations
  • Helps individuals seek support sooner. Reminds people they are not alone

Our Commitment

We are building a world where mental health conversations are:

  • Safe Informed
  • Compassionate
  • Free from shame

Our Impact

Understanding the science behind mental health:

 

When we change understanding, we change outcomes:

 

  • Reduce stigma → Reduce silence
  • Reduce silence → Reduce suffering
  • Reduce suffering → Reduce suicide risk

Together, we can create understanding and save lives.

The Suicide Prevention Tour

MentalHealthCODE.org

Important Notice:

Mental Health Code is not a mental health treatment center. The tools, strategies, and resources we provide are for educational purposes only and are not a substitute for professional mental health care.

As part of our commitment to community impact, we also provide accessible mental health education and support through charitable initiatives and partnerships. These efforts are designed to expand access to care, not replace clinical services.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7.

Your well-being matters. Reaching out is a strong and important step.

Refund Policy:

Refund Policy

At Mental Health Code, we are committed to delivering high-quality experiences while maintaining fairness and consistency for all participants.

All purchases are non-refundable. However, we offer flexible rescheduling options to support your needs.

Reschedule Policy

We understand that plans can change.

  • Sessions may be rescheduled to the next available session of equal or lesser value

  • Requests must be made at least 72 hours before your scheduled session

  • Rescheduling requests can be submitted through your booking confirmation or by contacting our team

Cancellation Policy

  • Cancellations must be made at least 72 hours in advance to qualify for rescheduling

  • Cancellations made within 72 hours of the session are not eligible for rescheduling

  • Missed sessions without notice are considered forfeited

Exceptions

We recognize that unexpected situations can arise. If you experience an emergency, please reach out to us directly.

Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis at our discretion.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or need support, please contact us. We are here to help and will do our best to support you.