BY YOUR SIDE. UNITED FOR LIFE.
Life Side Ohio is a groundbreaking initiative focused on working directly with members of Ohio's firearms community to prevent gun-related suicides.
OUR MISSION
In partnership with The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, Life Side Ohio exists to engage members of Ohio's firearms community in all corners of our state, including hunters, veterans, and public safety professionals, to stop gun-related suicides before they occur.
OUR STORY
Launched in 2022 to connect Ohio’s firearms community with life-saving mental health and suicide prevention resources, Life Side Ohio is a first-of-its-kind campaign that implements lessons learned from successful prevention efforts in states including Missouri, Utah, and New Hampshire.
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OUR VALUES
Life Side Ohio believes in teaming with hunters, collectors, enthusiasts, firearms instructors, and retailers, including those with professional firearms training, as part of a joint effort to promote gun safety and suicide awareness. This is about saving lives, period.
OUR GOAL
In Ohio, over half of all suicides involve the use of a firearm. Our objective is to lower the increasing rate of suicide by firearm through direct outreach efforts involving three (3) core members of our state’s firearms community: Retailers, veterans, and public safety professionals.
OUR TEAM
Scott Light
Founder, Lighthouse Communications
Scott is the founder of Lighthouse Communications and a proud, multi-year communications partner to the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation and its Life Side Ohio campaign. In fact, Scott was part of the original collaborators who took an idea and transformed it into the Life Side campaign. He also co-hosts and produces OSPF's podcast, Voices for Suicide Prevention. Before launching his company in 2020, Scott was a broadcast journalist who covered news stories on 4 continents over 28 years. He's been part of many award winning broadcasts, news specials and stories and also a recipient of 7 individual Emmy awards.
Daniel Bennett
Campaign Ambassador
As the Chief Strategy Officer at the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, Daniel Bennett supports the ongoing growth and development of Ohio’s network of Suicide Prevention Coalitions while working on the Ohio Coalition Institute and the Life Side Ohio Campaign. Daniel also works on advocacy and legislative issues, organizing OSPF’s partners to help advocate for suicide prevention. He is an Ohio Certified Prevention Consultant, having worked previously in universal school-based suicide prevention and coalition work. Daniel has a Bachelor of Education Degree from the University of Akron. When he isn’t at work or coaching baseball, his free time is dedicated to the outdoors.
Aly Romot
Senior Communications Specialist
Aly Romot (she/her) is the Senior Communications Specialist for Lighthouse Communications. She supports Life Side Ohio outreach, events, and social media accounts. Aly spent more than a decade in broadcast journalism. She is an Emmy award winning producer and has accolades from the Associated Press. Aly's passion for mental health awareness transcends into Life Side Ohio's powerful message. Aly is also a birth doula, educator, lactation counselor and birth photographer.
Jerrod Combs
Program Coordinator/Ambassador
Jerrod Combs is a Program Coordinator at the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation with a focus on supporting the Life Side Ohio Campaign and Man Therapy.
Prior to joining OSPF, Jerrod was a volunteer partner of Life Side Ohio Campaign through his previous employment as an Assistant Manager for a local outdoor supply retail store where he was able to distribute mental health resource information, host Calm Conversation training, and support the local coalition with firearm safety and safe storage training.
As a former U.S. Army medic Jerrod’s passion for service to his fellow soldiers and veterans comes from his personal experience with overcoming PTSD, as well as undergoing the challenges that veterans face when making the transition from military to civilian. This shared experience will help build relationships with the veteran community and their involvement in mental health advocacy.
"Like most people, suicide has impacted my life, and I'm in a very unique position to be able to help reach out and be a part of this."
GET INVOLVED
Whether you’re a gun owner or have lost a friend or loved one to suicide by firearm, our goal is simple - to save lives. We don't talk politics, nor do we wade into debates on legislation. We talk openly and honestly about Ohio’s suicide crisis and how to address it.
