DAYTON, Ohio — Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows suicide was among the top 10 causes of death in 2021 for people ages 10-64 and is considered a serious public health problem.

It affects families from all demographics and ethnicities./ The basketball court is Anthony Grant’s happy place- coaching and cheering on the University of Dayton Flyers Basketball Team. 

But there’s nothing he loves more than family. He shared a special bond with his daughter Jayda. 

“She loved being around her family,” said Grant. “She loved friends, she loved sports. She was a natural athlete.”

But the pandemic was a rough time for Jayda, as she tried to navigate college, recover from a sports-related injury and find her independence as a young adult.

“Within a period of a year we saw a complete flip in who our daughter was with some of the things that were revealed,” he said.

That’s when Grant and his wife realized she was struggling with her mental health and got her enrolled in mental health services. But that wasn’t enough. 

“Unfortunately, we weren’t able to get the help that she needed and we needed and that we needed in time,” he said.

Last June, she died by suicide at just 20 years old.

“A loss like that, it cuts through your soul,” he said. “I think there’s times where you ask why. You ask what could I have done differently? What could have been different in the system?”

Grant said his healing journey has been far from easy. But he saw first-hand the importance of mental health services and began to empathize with other families who have gone through similar situations. 

“My hope is that our story may encourage someone that may be struggling as our daughter was or maybe a mental health provider that feels like they aren’t making a difference,” he said. “And to let them know they are making a difference.”

If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health issues, you are encouraged to reach out to the 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.