People invited to support suicide prevention at annual Suicide Awareness Walk

People are invited next week to share their experiences and stories, learn about and walk to increase awareness of the need of suicide prevention.

The Fifth Annual Hill County Suicide Awareness Walk is set for Thursday, Sept. 12 beginning at 7 p.m. at the Montana State University-Northern clock tower on the campus quad.  

“In addition to bringing the suicide out of the darkness to talk about it, the walk provides an opportunity for survivors of suicide and suicide loss survivors to share their experiences,” Hill County Suicide Awareness Coalition Chair Amber Spring said.

Pre-event activities will begin at 6:30 p.m. with speakers and people sharing their stories. It also will feature music and more activities. Participants will be given T-shirts and suicide awareness honor beads until they run out, and Gary & Leo’s Fresh Foods it donating water.

The theme for this year is “It’s Time! To ask. To Listen. To Support.”

“We know that social support is a huge factor in suicide prevention, especially in a community with limited resources,” Spring added. “We want community members to learn more about mental health and how to approach a loved one with suicidal ideation

Suicide Awareness Coalition member Mark Cichosz will present a play he wrote, “It’s Time,” following the the walk. The play focuses on thoughts and feelings of those affected by suicide.

Spring said the committee is very excited to support the short play by Cichosz, a veteran of Montana Actors’ Theatre.

Considering the walk only started in 2014, Spring added, participation has grown every year. In 2017, she said Havre was in several months of a summer drought, but the day of the walk that changed, and participants still showed up to walk even thought it was in pouring rain.

The community sponsorships has grown every year, she said.

“This (provides) evidence that people want to make a difference on this issue, Spring said.

Cichosz said early last week that, at that time, 29 businesses and seven families had agreed to help sponsor the event.

Members of the coalition said they recognize that their efforts need to go beyond an annual walk. They are also actively working on looking at evidence-based practices for suicide prevention and finding the resources to bring those initiatives to Hill County. 

“This event also shows the community how many people support suicide awareness, can be allies to those wanting to talk or needing support and those recognizing that suicide is preventable,” Spring said.

She added that recent research shows that sharing “lived experience stories,” as people do at the walk, is beneficial.

“We want community members to learn more about mental health and how to approach a loved one with suicidal ideation,” Spring said. “We acknowledge that not everyone is going to seek mental health treatment and, even when they do, they may not have access to immediate care, so we want community members to recognize how important it is to lend support and listen and be there for those struggling with suicidal ideation.”

Community education programs are also available throughout the year. For example, the first Mental Health First Aid course of this season is set for Friday, Sept. 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Bullhook Community Health Center. Spots are limited to 30 people. Register with  Deidre Reiter at 395-6907.

For more information about suicide prevention information and resources, visit https://dphhs.mt.gov/suicideprevention/suicideresources .