Suicide Awareness walk set Thursday at Northern

Staff and wire report

The Hill County Suicide Awareness Coalition will be hosting its ninth annual Suicide Awareness Walk on the Montana State University-Northern campus Thursday, September 14, in recognition of World Suicide Prevention Day.

 Participants should begin gathering at the clock tower on the Quad south of Cowan Hall on the Northern campus after 6:30 p.m. and speakers will begin at 7 p.m. 

This year’s theme is “Hope Walks Here.” Havre Public Schools Education Foundation Executive Director Krystal Steinmetz, an advocate for increasing the education and destigmatization surrounding mental health issues, will speak at the event.

“One of the easiest ways to reduce that stigma is to simply talk about it, openly and honestly, and normalize discussions about mental health,” Steinmetz said. “We want the youth in our community to know that their mental well-being is important.”

Members of the community will then be invited to share their experiences with suicide. The gentle 1-mile walk will then convene in a path around Northern’s campus. It is handicap accessible.  

A flyer said that, in memory of loved ones lost, participants are encouraged to make their own T-shirts, signs, banners, and so on

A QPR Suicide Gatekeeper training is scheduled Monday, Sept. 25, from 3-5 p.m. in the Student Union Building Conference Room on Northern’s campus. The training is about two hours long and covers a variety of topics around suicide prevention, most importantly how to question, persuade and refer someone who may be suicidal. 

People can contact Amber Spring at [email protected] to register or for more information.

This month, people also have the opportunity to watch Ken Burns’ “Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth mental illness,” in a film screening and discussion.

The film will be shown Wednesday, Sept. 27, from 3:30-5:30 p.m. on the Montana State University-Northern campus and from 7-9 p.m. in the Havre High School auditorium, the flyer said.

The flyers said the film is “an unvarnished window into daily life with mental health challenges, from unsurmountable obstacles to stories of hope and resilience. Featuring firsthand accounts from over 20 youth who live with mental health conditions.”

Discussion will be facilitated by Kee Dunning, LCPC, LMFT, and a special guest from the film, Maclayn.

The event will be hosted by the Montana State University-Northern Student Wellness Center, Havre Public Schools Education Foundation, the Hill County Local Advisory Council on Behavioral Health, Havre Public Schoolsand the Hill County Suicide Awareness Coalition.