Solomon Thomas is working hard to honor his late sister's memory. 2018 was a rough year for the San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman. The weight of his loss impacted his season, but he is making every effort to increase awareness about suicide prevention.
Thomas has been presented with the inaugural Eve R. Meyer legacy award for his ongoing efforts to help those struggling with depression that might lead to tragedy.
Thomas lost his sister, Ella, on the morning of January 23, 2018.
"To be strong is to be vulnerable and willing to be uncomfortable." - #49ers @SollyThomas90 as he accepted the inaugural Eve R. Meyer legacy award from @SFSuicide for his ongoing efforts in suicide prevention at the Laughs for Life Gala. pic.twitter.com/6DMxVG34sb
— Emily Lucas (@EmilyKLucas) April 10, 2019
"I'm trying to figure out ways to start something to help fight this national health crisis," Solomon said last year during an interview for ESPN The Magazine. "I want to go talk to middle schools, because that seems to be when kids start to feel overwhelmed emotionally.
"I want to tell them that they aren't weird, that feeling sad sometimes is OK, and that if they're feeling bad a lot of the time they should go talk to an adult they trust. And I'll tell them that if they don't have anyone like that, they can come talk to me."
Thomas, his family, friends, and several members of the 49ers organization took part in the 16-mile Out of the Darkness Overnight Walk in Dallas, Texas on June 2, 2018. Thomas' mother, Martha, initially set a goal of raising $1,000 in the event to support the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention.
When word reached 49ers general manager John Lynch, the team donated $5,000 toward the cause.
"It was a very powerful weekend," Thomas told NBC Sports Bay Area during a June episode of the 49ers Insider Podcast. "You know, getting together with family and friends, going to walk in Dallas for my sister, and just everyone around us; people who suffer with depression themselves, or who are going through a hard time themselves, or people who have been affected by loved ones who have died by suicide. It was very powerful and very touching to feel all the love from everyone else there."
Thomas is preparing to enter his third NFL season since being made the No. 3 overall pick by the 49ers in 2017. He registered 31 combined tackles and a sack through 16 games and 13 starts with the 49ers in 2018. Thomas has recorded 72 combined tackles and four sacks through his two NFL seasons.