Toccoa Falls College Men's Basketball players discuss mental health in the sports industry, misconceptions, and what people can do to support them.

Toccoa Falls College’s women’s soccer team dominated the fall season, winning the Regional Tournament and advancing to the national competition in Florida. The past few seasons have been rocky for the team as they have adjusted to new coaching placements, but this season the team hit their stride.

Suicide. The first time I remember hearing this word I was 11 years old. It was a beautiful November day, and my mother came into my room crying. She told me that my great uncle had killed himself. At the time, I did not really understand what had happened. I just knew that I was confused and sad. My uncle had been an outwardly happy person. He was funny, loved his family and served in his church. How could someone who seemed “okay” not really be, okay?

September is Suicide Awareness Month, but the numbers are hardly decreasing. Maybe you have lost someone to suicide, nearly lost yourself to suicide or have never been impacted by the crisis. No one should feel like their life doesn’t matter or that ending it is the best option. No matter your experience with suicide, you can help prevent it.

“We landed in Kyiv, and the next day, the missiles started coming,” Sky Barkley, a Toccoa Falls College alumnus, said recently. “I didn’t have time to get organized on the ground… So, all of a sudden, we’re in the middle of the invasion, and [we’re] not ready yet.”

Keep reading to find out how TFC alum Sky Barkley is helping with relief efforts in Ukraine.