Flatt said it isn't his intent to tread on current efforts in the state because good local and regional resources already exist. He's looking more for collaboration.

"It's too big a problem for one organization," said Flatt, whose 16-year-old son, Jason, shot himself in 1997. "Our main mission is to get people to do something."

One thing the Jason Foundation has going for it is money and national affiliations. The American Football Coaches Association backs the foundation, and local college coaches agreed to do public service announcements about suicide prevention.

The foundation offers free training to teenagers, parents and educators. It has a school-based curriculum for students, in-service presentations for teachers and seminars for parents.

Clear warning signs precede 80 percent of suicides, according to the American Psychiatric Association.

"They key is learning how to recognize those signs and knowing what to do when you see them," Flatt said.

Failing to act can have dire consequences. "Sometimes," he said, "that hesitation is lethal."

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