What started as a small local project for Mental Health Awareness Month turned into a community-wide, life-saving mission.<\/p>\n
BOISE, Idaho \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
The project, called \u201cJust Calling You to Stay,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve 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\u2019re not alone,\u201d Brown told KTVB.<\/p>\n
The phone moves from city to city across the Treasure Valley. It doesn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery time I take the phone back and plug it in and I go through the messages, it just \u2026 yeah, it gets me emotional, probably every single time,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, the phone made a stop at Bear Brewing Company for its \u201cBuck Cancer\u201d fundraiser. Business owner Beth Bechtel said hosting the phone was a way to offer support to people who understand both mental and physical battles.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, it was just one more piece of being able to send hope to somebody, and I just\u2026 that\u2019s the whole point,\u201d Bechtel said.<\/p>\n
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. \u201cIf I can share any message, it\u2019s that you\u2019re meant to fly high. There\u2019s always a brighter day. Just stay,\u201d Mausling said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy son Kade took his life 18 months ago today. I had heard a lot about needing to have hope, and I didn\u2019t see anybody providing it,\u201d Stockton said. \u201cThe idea is to come up with these initiatives and just get out to your local places.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople want to participate. People are good, and giving them a place to do that, it\u2019s been amazing,\u201d Stockton said.<\/p>\n
Among the anonymous voicemails left on the phone are words like:<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are so worthy and beautiful.\u201d
\u201cTell one another that you love each other.\u201d
\u201cThere are still little things every day that make it worth sticking around.\u201d
\u201cYou are not broken. You are on the mend. And every day, it gets better.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n