A New Mexico couple, who lost their son to suicide, brought back a CrossFit competition Saturday to raise funds and awareness, KOB4 reported.
Suzanne and Tim Jonas, whose son McLaren died five years ago, launched the McLaren Cup competition in 2019 but have been unable to hold the event for the last two years because of COVID-19, the station reported.
They were able to bring it back this year and believe it's especially important since many people suffered mental health issues throughout the pandemic, the story said. Creating awareness and losing the stigma is a big part of the event's mission.
"One thing we really want to say to the youth today is that, if you're feeling down, if you're feeling overly lonely or lonely at all, reach out to somebody that you trust, reach out to your parents and to your teachers or counselors or even your friends,” Suzanne Jonas, McLaren’s mom, said.
Proceeds from the fundraiser will go to Ten-82 which "supports the employees of first responders and their families," KOB4 reported.
McLaren, who died at age 15, was a "typical teenager," his parents told the station.
"He liked motorsports," his father said. "He had his own car before he is even 16 years old. He loved his family, computers, gaming, he had lots of friends.”
He never talked about suicide, the father said.
"He was always a happy kid,” he said. “He had never gotten in fights. It didn't seem like he was ever in trouble with it.”
Since his death, the parents have focused on suicide prevention.
“It's time to get over the stigma," Tim told the station. “It's time to talk about these kinds of things and not try to keep it within your own household or within your own self or person.”
Friends who notice something is not quite right are in a position to make a difference, Suzanne said.
“What I would like to say to the friends is, if you have a friend who comes to you and says, ‘I'm feeling really down, I'm feeling like I don't matter,’ don't just blow it off," she said.