Nonprofit shares resources to bring awareness to suicides, substance abuse

Started by Nicole Underwood, along with Amber Madison and Basin resident Mindy Shaw, Hashtag Success Over Suicide (#SOS) is a recently founded nonprofit supplying resources to community members in need of help.

According to Shaw, #SOS creates wooden boxes filled with coping and distraction items, such as essential oil diffusers, breathing straws for mindful breathing, hygiene packs and more. The company creates six different boxes for various situations – suicide awareness, substance abuse, at-risk youth, domestic violence survivors, homelessness and veterans.

After having a family member experience suicidal thoughts, Underwood started Hashtag Socks Over Suicide and crocheted socks to raise awareness. Overtime, Shaw said Underwood's idea evolved into creating the supply boxes that #SOS now creates.

In early 2023, #SOS became a registered 501(c)3 and began donating boxes to local organizations in Vernal, Utah, which is where the company started. In October 2023, Shaw said #SOS received a $14,000 donation from Hotel Vernal Haunt, a haunted house fundraiser event in Vernal. Since the donation, #SOS has gained traction.

Shaw said #SOS donates boxes to organizations that may frequently encounter community members in need of help. Organizations can request boxes to be donated by emailing #SOS through their website, hashtagsos.org. Shaw said she has started donating boxes to organizations in surrounding communities that could benefit from them including Cloud Peak Counseling in Worland and Ox Bow Counseling in Basin.

The boxes are also available for purchase on their website and for every box purchased, #SOS donates a box. Similarly, #SOS has a "Hero's Program," which allows organizations to buy boxes with customizable options, and their purchase pays for #SOS to create and donate more boxes.

For those interested in helping #SOS, Shaw said people can donate money to the organization online or can purchase items for the support boxes through their Amazon Wishlist, which is located at the bottom of their website.

Shaw highlighted that one of the easiest ways to donate to #SOS is to sign up for their donation program that allows purchases on personal debit cards to be rounded up, and proceeds go toward creating more boxes.

#SOS also has merchandise available for purchase, a monthly newsletter and a pledge that people can take, to promise that they will help raise awareness and be there for others.

Shaw also said #SOS will be at the Worland Mental Fitness Fair this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Worland Community Center.