Since November, at least four teenagers in Boone County have taken their own lives.
The tragedies have left the community devastated.
In response, hundreds of people showed up at Florence Baptist Church on a recent Sunday night for a difficult discussion and space to heal.
Mothers Rebecca Malin and Amber Murphy both lost their children and shared their message to teens struggling and parents who can be a listening ear.
Psychologist Dr. Wayne Chappelle helped soldiers returning from battle process tragedy and loss of life. He told the crowd life is a battlefield, too.
But even in experiencing death, you can find strength in honoring the lives lost.
He said, “Tragedies can transform you, and you will be transformed when you are deliberate and intentional about the way you think and your habits every day.”
As Boone County grieves the lives lost, there’s hope for tomorrow and solidarity as a community.
Luke Dibenedetto, a pastor at Seven Hills Church, called the gathering, “A night of casting hope, a night of giving resources out to parents, to families to help provide next steps, to help not just the spiritual side, but the practical mental health side for students, for teenagers that might need help.”