Community Holds Candlelight Vigil for Jasper Teen, Raises Awareness
Friends, family and strangers gathered Tuesday evening at Redemption Christian Church to mark what would have been the 18th birthday of Jasmyn Lorey, a 17 year old Jasper High School junior who died by suicide on October 24. The vigil aimed to surround the family with support and to create space for local teens to connect and speak about mental health and suicidal thoughts.
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Friends, family and neighbors filled Redemption Christian Church Tuesday evening for a candlelight vigil to remember Jasmyn Lorey. The event marked what would have been her 18th birthday, and it brought the community together to grieve, to offer support to the immediate family and to raise awareness of youth mental health challenges. Pink balloons, Jasmyn’s favorite color, were released at the beginning of the vigil as attendees gathered in the sanctuary.
Organizers said the vigil was needed not only for the family, but for the wider community as a moment to acknowledge loss and to encourage conversation among young people. The gathering provided a setting where teens could speak openly about struggles with suicidal ideation and seek connection with peers and adults. Photos from the event accompany this article to record the turnout and the symbols of remembrance shared by attendees.
The death of a local student resonates across multiple institutions that touch young lives. Schools, health providers and county agencies must collectively assess how effectively they identify at risk students, provide counseling, and deliver timely crisis intervention. For parents and residents, the vigil underscores questions about school counselor ratios, availability of mental health services in and outside school hours, and how local systems coordinate after a crisis.
Policy choices at the school district and county level determine the resources available to students and families. Investment in school based counseling, training for faculty on recognizing signs of distress, and partnerships with community mental health providers are practical areas local officials can address. Civic engagement can shape those policies. Residents concerned about youth mental health can raise the issue at school board meetings, contact elected county officials, and support measures that expand access to counseling and crisis services.
Immediate resources are available for anyone in crisis. The national Lifeline can be reached by calling 988, and the existing 1 800 273 8255 number remains operational. For those who prefer text, the Crisis Text Line can be accessed by texting HELLO to 74741. These services operate as entry points for urgent help and local referrals.
The vigil in Jasper was both an act of mourning and a call to action. As the community supports Jasmyn’s family, the event also highlights the ongoing need for clear pathways to care, more open conversation about mental health, and sustained civic attention to the systems that serve young people in Dubois County.
