The Brian O'Neill Jr. Foundation is proud to support the launch of the Sources of Strength suicide prevention program at Shepherd University. As the first higher education institution in West Virginia to adopt this national, evidence-based initiative, Shepherd University is set to implement a peer-led approach to tackle mental health challenges on campus.

This collaboration was driven by Karen Martin, a counselor at Shepherd, and Lee O’Neill, founder of the Brian O’Neill Jr. Foundation. Martin, having worked with Sources of Strength at Martinsburg High School, witnessed firsthand its positive impact on students and sought to bring the program to the university level. The Brian O’Neill Jr. Foundation, which has a long-standing commitment to supporting mental health initiatives in the region, is financing the program at Shepherd.

Sources of Strength, which will launch following a peer leader training session on October 12, aims to empower students to lead mental health outreach and suicide prevention campaigns. The program will bring together students, faculty, and staff in a peer-led model designed to foster leadership and reduce the stigma around mental health.

Lee O’Neill’s dedication to mental health advocacy aligns with the foundation’s mission to create stronger support networks for those struggling with mental health, making this initiative a crucial addition to the university’s resources.