Suicide Awareness
It's Okay Not to be Okay but Let's Work on Being Okay
Rock for Life Foundation
Rock for Life Foundation wants to spread our message of hope and compassion. We believe that a single action can make a difference in the community, and that collective action can greatly impact the world. Through advocacy and outreach activities, our team works tirelessly each day to contribute their part to the greater good. We want people to know that their life matters and they matter.
Your life is not over, your life is important
Suicide Affects Thousands
Each year in the United States, more than 30,000 lives are cut short by suicide. That means that suicide ends one life every 14 minutes. For every life lost, thousands more are affected by the lost of a child, parent, friend or co-worker. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people (ages 10-24). According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “more teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia and influenza, chronic lung disease – Combined.
Depression is treatable, suicide is not. We must focus on prevention, addressing depression and related risk factors. Through education and prevention, we can save lives and prevent needless suffering. The Rock for Life Foundation is committed to educating teens, young adults and families about depression in order to create a network of informed support around those at-risk and ultimately to save lives.
About Us
On Sunday, August 14, 1994, we lost our beloved son, grandson, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend Sterling “Rocky” Parker II to suicide. SUICIDE! A word that we knew the meaning of but never imagined it would be embedded in our mind forever. Our family has been forever changed by this tragedy and we are devastated that such a fun loving, kind hearted young man that so many people loved, was taken from us by a debilitating disease of hopelessness and depression. The “what ifs…?” can constantly plague us. Since 2013, Dhyana R. Parker, Rocky’s sister, has been on a crusade to honor his life serving as an advocate and champion educating teens, young adults and families about mental illness, depression and suicide. She did not want any other family to feel the pain she and our family have felt since 1994. The Rock for Life Foundation will be a safe haven for those who feel that they have nowhere to go or no one to talk to. We want them to know they are not alone and that someone is always here day or night to talk, to listen, and to understand.
‘Our Story Isn’t Over”
Mission Statement
The Rock for Life Foundation Mission is to support, educate and provide services to empower families living with the challenges of mental health disorders. We do this by providing a safe place to share stories and find support for others who are dealing with mental health disorders or caring for a family member with a mental illness. We believe that mental health issues impact social issues, including education, homelessness, and poverty. Mental health is not solely an individual responsibility but is a product of community conditions. The places where people live, learn, work, play and pray can have a significant impact on improving mental health.
Some mental health conditions are exacerbated by medical or clinical barriers, such as the lack of mental health professionals in the area. However, many poor outcomes stem from challenging environmental factors like housing stability, neighborhood infrastructure, and conditions at home, work and school. Mental health is a concept that should be promoted beyond the walls of health clinics and instead integrated into everyday life (such as our conversations, actions, decisions and responsibilities). Community members, leaders and professionals–-from teachers and preachers, to police officers and judges-–should understand the importance of mental health and the factors that influence it.