‘Free Your Mind’: Erie 1 BOCES’ Students’ Song Played at Suicide Prevention Event

Posted On Friday September 13, 2024
Song1
Erie 1 BOCES student Owen Shotwell speaks during an event marking National Suicide Prevention Month at the Edward A. Rath County Office Building in Buffalo on September 13.

As Erie County elected officials and advocates spoke on the importance of preventing suicide, a song from Erie 1 BOCES students gave a fresh perspective to a deeply impactful issue.

“It was our goal to send an uplifting and far-reaching message that you're not alone,” said Owen Shotwell, a Kenmore East High School senior who studies at the Erie 1 BOCES Career and Technical Education Center @ Calspan Business Park. “There's no shame in it if you need help, talk to somebody because there are people that can help you and want to help you.”

The students’ song, “Free Your Mind,” was played as a flag with the message “There Is Hope” was raised in front of the Edward A. Rath County Office Building in Buffalo during a September 13 event marking National Suicide Prevention Month.

Other students attending the event from the center’s Video Production and Recording Arts program were Owen Conti from Williamsville South High School, Cedric McNair from Maryvale High School, Adrian Grey from Hamburg High School and Elijah Gershbein from Clarence High School.  Simone Klubek, the center’s principal, said students in the program showed courage and maturity as they worked together to create the song and corresponding music video.

“These students fully embraced our belief that their creativity combined with their skills in sound recording and cinematography could send a meaningful message out into the world,” she said. “Each student contributed their unique strengths, coming together to create something truly special.”

Instructor Marc Hunt said the song, which brings together elements of musical genres like rock, hip-hop and gospel, had been in the works since last winter. The project was aided by the unveiling of a newly revamped music recording space at the Erie 1 BOCES center.

“It makes you proud to see your students having a positive impact in the community and working with each other to make this project come together,” he said.

The students’ message about mental health and suicide prevention was heartening to Dr. Celia Spacone of the Erie County Suicide Prevention Coalition, who spoke with students prior to the creation of their song.

“They came and started looking at this topic, and they were willing to put that message of hope into their work,” she said. “They integrated that knowledge so beautifully into their song.”

Among the organizations and government offices represented at the event were the Buffalo Psychiatric Center, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Buffalo & Erie County, Compeer Buffalo, Crisis Services, Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers, Veterans One-Stop Center of WNY and Erie Path.

If you are in crisis and in need of assistance, Erie County residents can call 716-834-3131, hotline of the Suicide Prevention Council of Erie County, or call or text 988, the national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Both options are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The students’ song can be heard at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaSPw730Cgs. More information about the programs available through Erie 1 BOCES can be found at https://www.e1b.org/en/k-12-education-programs/career-and-technical-education.aspx.