Activities to raise awareness of suicide set for next week

Activities are scheduled throughout next week in Havre to raise the awareness of suicide detection and the need for suicide prevention, including the third annual Walk for Awareness scheduled for Thursday evening.

Amber Spring, one of the organizers of the week’s activities, said last year’s event attracted close to 100 people and this year the planning committee is hoping for 150.

With the help of the Havre High School Key Club, she said, the committee expanded activities over the course of the week this year, increasing family-friendly activities. 

Monday at 4 p.m., Havre-Hill County Library is sponsoring the “Kindness Rock Project” for children older than 12 for use in a rock garden. 

At 7 p.m. Monday, Hi-Line Paint and Pour will be hosting an event in conjunction with Suicide Awareness Week, where a portion of the fee will be donated back to the walk. 

Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., the library will again host the “Kindness Rock Project” for children during Story Time. 

Pizza Hut and Taco John’s also are helping with fundraisers.

Pizza Hut donated 20 percent of any purchase when the buyer mentioned the Walk for Awareness this week, and next Thursday, Taco John’s is holding a “Crunch for a Cause” for the walk from 5 to 7 p.m. where 50 percent of the purchase will go to the event when “suicide awareness” is mentioned. 

Havre High Key Club will also be hosting activities at the high school next week.

Thursday’s walk will start on the Montana State University-Northern campus next Thursday with pre-walk activities and sign in scheduled from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Cowan Hall courtyard.  Community members will have opportunities to make signs to take on the walk, make memorial luminaries, or add remembrances of loved ones on the “Remembrance Wall.”

T-shirts, “honor beads,” temporary tattoos, and water will also be available, provided by community sponsors. The committee is also making a kindness rock garden. People can bring their own rocks to the garden or take rocks to spread kindness where they go. 

Speakers will begin at 7:30 p.m. and community members will have an opportunity to share stories and offer remembrances immediately following.

“The short, gentle walk will begin after the talks; all ages are welcome,” Spring said. 

For more information, people can contact Spring at 265-3783 or [email protected].