(Photo from the Get Involved @ JCCC’s website)

Guest Speaker Josh Rivedal is coming to JCCCs’ campus. On Nov. 5 in GEB 233, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. there will be an interactive discussion on suicide prevention. He is not your average public speaker–Josh is CEO and founder of The i’Mpossible Project, an organization looking to achieve the impossible for suicide prevention. He is also an author and actor.

Alex Wells, assistant dean of counseling, emphasized “The good thing about the speaker coming up is, he’s a funny guy–I think It’s important to be able to laugh and to not take it too seriously”.

The i’Mpossible Project is a mental health-based curriculum meant to help students achieve success and bring awareness to mental health and suicide prevention. His efforts have not gone unnoticed, for he is recognized globally and will be making his way to our college campus.

“We found out that about 17% of our students have strongly considered suicide in the last year, and another statistic showed one in every three students are struggling with anxiety or depression. Obviously it is an issue… to have these speakers, what we are really trying to do is teach people that they are not alone”.

Wells has been with JCCC for 16 consecutive years and is responsible for overseeing these public speakers. He was previously a counselor. All counselors at JCCC have earned their master’s degrees in psychology.

In 2023, JCCC was awarded a Garrett Lee Suicide Prevention grant by the U.S. Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This helped expand on-campus mental health services for all students. One of the ways this grant is being utilized is through these public speaking events.

Wells ends with this piece of advice: “If you’re unhappy with your state of being, then being willing to change is important. Even the darkest moments define that little bit of joy.”

Join them in GEB 233 on Wednesday and start to create those new pathways, approaches and outlooks with the knowledge and wisdom Josh Rivedal will be sure to provide. Come and find out the ways you are possible–all are welcome.

To find out more information about this event, visit JCCC’s events page.