What started as a small local project for Mental Health Awareness Month turned into a community-wide, life-saving mission.
BOISE, Idaho — Each May brings renewed attention to mental health and its status in our community. For this Mental Health Awareness Month in the Treasure Valley, one initiative is sparking connection in an unexpected way, through a rotary phone.
The project, called “Just Calling You to Stay,” was created by local resident Brittany Brown. The traveling phone collects anonymous voicemails from community members. Each message offers encouragement, shares personal mental health experiences, or reminds others that the community is there for them.
“I’ve been sharing them on Instagram as a way to just inspire people and to give people a reason to stay, or just to tell people that they’re not alone,” Brown told KTVB.
The phone moves from city to city across the Treasure Valley. It doesn’t receive calls. Instead, it records them. Participants are invited to pick up the receiver and leave a message. Brown launched the initiative at the beginning of May and said listening to the recordings has been emotional.
“Every time I take the phone back and plug it in and I go through the messages, it just … yeah, it gets me emotional, probably every single time,” she said.
Earlier this month, the phone made a stop at Bear Brewing Company for its “Buck Cancer” fundraiser. Business owner Beth Bechtel said hosting the phone was a way to offer support to people who understand both mental and physical battles.
“For me, it was just one more piece of being able to send hope to somebody, and I just… that’s the whole point,” Bechtel said.
Amber Mausling, who lost her nephew to suicide in 2020, was just one of many participants and left a message to let others know they are valued. “If I can share any message, it’s that you’re meant to fly high. There’s always a brighter day. Just stay,” Mausling said.
The phone is part of a broader organization called The Continuation Project, created by Jacob Stockton, a father who lost his 14-year-old son, Kade Parrish, to suicide in 2023.
“My son Kade took his life 18 months ago today. I had heard a lot about needing to have hope, and I didn’t see anybody providing it,” Stockton said. “The idea is to come up with these initiatives and just get out to your local places.”
What started as a symbolic rotary phone has evolved into something deeply personal and potentially lifesaving for those who engage with it or hear the words of encouragement.
“People want to participate. People are good, and giving them a place to do that, it’s been amazing,” Stockton said.
Among the anonymous voicemails left on the phone are words like:
“You are so worthy and beautiful.”
“Tell one another that you love each other.”
“There are still little things every day that make it worth sticking around.”
“You are not broken. You are on the mend. And every day, it gets better.”
As the project gains momentum, Brown and Stockton decided the phone will keep traveling, even after May. With growing interest from businesses and community members, she and Stockton plan to continue the movement throughout the year.
If you are in crisis or someone you know is in crisis, people can call or text 988.