HELLO S.T.A.Y. FAMILY!

Happy December, season's greetings, and an overdue, long-awaited snowfall!

We know this time of year can bring up complex emotions… especially if you’re navigating an injury, an over-packed schedule, or holiday overwhelm! If that’s where you’re at, you’re not alone. We’re here to share resources, connect with you at community events, and offer the mental health support you might need through this holiday season.

OUR WHY: Everything we do is rooted in the belief that people heal in connection, not isolation.

S.T.A.Y. exists to break down the stigma that comes with talking about mental health and suicidality within action sports. We strive to provide ethical and meaningful access to mental health education, grief support, and community care through storytelling, art, and shared presence. 

MONTHLY INTENTION: Holding Space

DECEMBER, 2025

For the holiday season, we’re leaning into the idea of holding space. Holding space for grief, for healing, for creativity, and for connection. Holding space isn’t about fixing or solving… It’s about being present with whatever arises and making room for the full spectrum of the human experience.

Here are some of the things we’re holding space for:

  • The grief that surfaces when the world expects celebration.
  • The frustration of bodies or circumstances that don’t align with our plans.
  • The exhaustion that comes from holding everything together or carrying heavy emotions.
  • The quiet moments of reflection that winter naturally invites.
  • The creativity that emerges when we give ourselves permission to slow down.
  • The small glimmers of beauty, safety, or aliveness that remind us we’re still here and that hope exists.
  • The feelings that come up as we ease our way back into winter activities.

All of these things can coexist. Feeling one doesn’t cancel out the others. You can feel excited about powder days and heavy about the holidays. You can experience suicidal thoughts and still notice a brief moment of joy with a friend. You can feel deeply sad in the morning and genuinely connected in the afternoon.

Slowing down and holding space means allowing for complexity. It means letting all of these emotions exist without judgment and without rushing yourself through them. See how it feels to hold space, gently, intentionally, and with curiosity. 

UPCOMING EVENTS: Winter naturally invites us inward, and this season we’re honoring that pull with events that support reflection and togetherness.

Closing of Community Art Fundraiser:

Today is the final day to bid on or buy out artwork on our website in support of our first Community Art Show fundraiser! Every piece was generously donated by artists in our community, and all proceeds go directly toward S.T.A.Y.’s mission to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and support suicide prevention and mental health education in the action sports community. Art has a special way of bringing joy into our lives… one of these pieces could be the perfect gift or a meaningful addition to your space this holiday season!

It has been an honor and a privilege to partner with Terra Care SLC and Valenti Acupuncture for Terra Care’s 7th anniversary celebration by hosting our first Community Donated Art Show. Terra Care has long been a steady and welcoming space for our community, offering a wide range of wellness, movement, and holistic care services. Since its founding in 2018, it has continued to grow and evolve while staying committed to patient-centered, integrative healing practices. We are deeply grateful to Amanda Valenti of Valenti Acupuncture and Terra Care SLC for opening their doors and supporting our mission.

If you’re in need of self-care, healing, or looking to gift a loved one access to their services, please explore all they offer at terracareslc.com!

Fisher Winter Art Markets:

  • Find us at Fisher tonight, Wednesday, December 10th, and Wednesday, December 17th. 
  • We’ll be there with limited-run goods, resources, on-site mental health professionals, and our give-2-get fundraisers, which offer low-barrier access to high-quality donated goods from Skullcandy, Salomon, The Bomb Hole, and Volcom. Drop by, say hi, learn about mental health resources, and support local art!

Wayward Premiere:

  • We’re excited to celebrate Mia Lambson Brady’s World Premier of Wayward: How Women Changed Snowboarding – A powerful story about how passion, grit, determination, and courage fundamentally changed a sport, an industry, and a culture.
  • Join us for the Ride With Your Heroes portion of the day from 12–2 PM, where you can ride with some of the heroes from the movie (including S.T.A.Y.’s founder Desirelee Melancon!) from 12-2 and then from 4-9 for premiere festivities. We would love to see you there!
  • Check out the details and RSVP here: Wayward RSVP 

COMMUNITY IMPACT & PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: Your engagement continues to help STAY grow our free resources, support programs, and creative outreach.

FREE GRIEF SUPPORT PROGRAM

This month, we’re highlighting our Grief Support Program as a gentle reminder that help is available, reaching out can be simple, and you are never a burden. You deserve support.Just send one email, and we’ll connect with you within two business days to get started. We offer 5 free grief support sessions with a grief-informed mental health professional, available to individuals nationwide.Your sessions will be tailored to your unique needs, and after the fifth session, we’ll provide referrals if you’d like continued support.

  • Grief can take many forms… life changes, transitions in career or identity, shifts in relationships, or the loss of someone you love.
  • Asking for help is often scary and complicated, so we made getting started confidential, easy, and fast. 
  • The action sports community understands grief in a deep and personal way, and this program was created to offer a soft landing as you move through whatever you’re experiencing.
  • You don’t have to carry grief on your own. Reach out when you’re ready, and we’ll be here to support you.