Howell Public Schools is marking September as Suicide Awareness Month with a special presentation of the acclaimed Do It For Daniel program.
Daniel Olson, the student for whom the program is named, was an Ispeming High School all-state athlete who died by suicide in 2012 at the age of 19 after battling anxiety and depression for years.
The Olson family has been open about Daniel’s mental health struggles, and since his death they have been working to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness.
Daniel’s father, Jeff Olson, travels to different schools and communities to speak about anxiety, depression and suicide, and present the “Do It For Daniel” documentary.
Jeff Olson has taught in the public school system for 30 years and has coached football and other sports for 37 years. For 27 years he was the head football coach at Ishpeming High School in Michigan, and during his tenure they won 3 state championships and had 2 runner-up finishes. He was elected into the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2016 with a record of 200-91. Jeff has also been Ishpeming’s Head Basketball Coach and has helped coach track for many years.
He will be presenting the program for parents, staff, and the community at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 19, at the Howell High School Rod Bushey Performing Arts Center. For more information, click here.
