Hailey’s Legacy Hopes to Reshape South Dakota Law

In February of 2024, Larissa Strong got a phone call no mother should ever have to take. Her daughter, 21-year-old Hailey Barrick, had taken her own life. Now, over a year later, Larissa is doing whatever she can to make a change.

I was able to catch up with Larissa and discuss what law she is fighting to change in our state, and we'll cover that shortly. But first, let's learn Hailey's story.

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Hailey felt things on a different level than the majority of people. Her mother (Larissa) noticed that at an early age. In this clip, Larissa talks about Hailey's life growing up.

As Hailey grew older, her mom began to notice signs of depression and anxiety in her daughter. In this clip, Larissa speaks about how everything changed one night after she asked Hailey to put the dishes away.

One day, a routine phone call between mother and daughter (Hailey in Sioux Falls and Larissa in Texas) quickly turned into something else entirely when Hailey began to grow sleepy on the call.

In this clip, Larissa talks about the aftermath of her daughter's suicide, trying to make sense of the tragedy, and how to honor her legacy.

Larissa stresses that this is not a political issue, it's a mental health one. And the more the public is educated on that fact, the more open they are to bringing about change.

To learn more about Hailey Barrick's Legacy and to sign the petition, visit the Hailey's Legacy Website here.

Story Sources: Hailey's Legacy Petition