TAMPA, Fla. — The pandemic is still hitting mental health hard, as the CDC reports a more than 30% increase in reported mental health issues nationwide.

Being hit especially hard are school-age kids, who for more than a year have been either learning from home or have been going in and out of quarantine after exposure to someone with COVID-19.

What You Need To Know

  • Suicide awareness non-profit launching new program in Hillsborough schools

  • The group is called Hailey's Voice of Hope

  • Made up of friends and volunteers, the group works to get rid of the stigma of mental illness

  • For more information, visit https://haileysvoice.org

A local suicide awareness group is now fighting to get a new program in schools, despite restrictions because of the pandemic.

The group is called Hailey's Voice of Hope, a suicide awareness group founded in 2018 by Lisa Acierno.

Acierno's daughter Hailey died of mental health issues in 2017.

"She was brilliant. She was Funny. She was quirky. She did not take pride in her mental illness," Acierno said.

Bringing those dark stories to light is the mission of Hailey's Voice of Hope.

Acierno says her group is working to "get rid of the stigma of mental illness."

The non-profit foundation is currently working on its fall fundraiser, a golf outing at Heritage Isles Golf and Country Club.

The event raises thousands of dollars a year to help get Hailey's story out.

The group is made up of friends and volunteers and none of them are shy about talking suicide.

Dave is a high school teacher and has a story.

"I've lost two students within 6 months to mental illness."

Jessica has a story too. She has a large extended family.

"Everybody thinks it is never going to happen to you. It's never going to happen to your family. And then it does."

Stories that bring the group together, and stories that shed light on the growing problem of mental health issues and suicide.

One in four people nationwide either know someone that has died from mental illness or is struggling to fight it.

That's the message Hailey's Voice of Hope is trying to get out during National Suicide Awareness month.

The group is now working to launch the second program in Hillsborough County Schools to train principals about suicide and the warning signs of mental health issues.

For more information, visit https://haileysvoice.org.