LAWRENCE, Kan. (Aug. 26, 2025) — HeadQuarters Kansas will partner with Morton County Community Coalition on Saturday, Sept. 27, for their “Silence Isn’t Strength Concert” at the Morton County Civic Center, in Elkhart. HeadQuarters Kansas serves as the main 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline call center for the state of Kansas, answering more than 25,000 calls in 2024.

Former American Idol contestant Drake McCain will be performing alongside artists Jordan Mitchell and Radleigh Hurn at the event. Organizers expect a crowd of around 600-700 people for the event.

All concert proceeds will go towards supporting suicide prevention efforts in Morton County. HeadQuarters Kansas will be present with information on 988 resources and other suicide prevention materials, and build relationships within the community.

“We will be meeting with members of the coalition to begin discussions on how we can begin a meaningful and sustainable partnership to prevent suicide and reduce the stigma around mental health.” says Kirk Vernon, statewide 988 partnership director, “We are excited about this opportunity.”

The partnership comes during suicide prevention month, and addresses a critical need in rural Kansas communities. A 2022 Kansas Health Institute analysis of 20-year trends showed that rural and frontier counties in Kansas experienced significantly higher increases in suicide rates, with frontier counties seeing a 54.7% increase compared to 43.2% in urban areas.

Morton County, classified as a frontier county, is among the 105 Kansas counties served by HeadQuarters Kansas’ 988 services. The “Silence Isn’t Strength” emphasizes the importance of community connections in reducing stigma around mental health support during suicide prevention month, and all year round.