Sep 24, 2021

'Out of the Darkness' walk for suicide prevention to be held Sunday at Bishop Leblond High School

Posted Sep 24, 2021 12:00 PM
The Bishop Leblond High School track is the site of this years walk/Photo by Matt Pike
The Bishop Leblond High School track is the site of this years walk/Photo by Matt Pike

By MATT PIKE

St. Joseph Post

Suicide rates across the United States are a growing concern across the United States, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention hopes to raise awareness about the problem.

Chair Kerry Harvey with for the Out of Darkness walk for suicide prevention in St. Joseph, says that mental health problems are on the rise and became even worse over this past year during the COVID pandemic.

"Mental health issues have gone up, definitely, in the past year, year and a half, due to COVID," Harvey says. "We are trying to reduce the rate, the goal of AFSP, is to reduce the rate by 2025 by 20%, so that's our goal."

Mental health has been at an all-time low and suicide rates have grown, bringing the need for more resources to help.

Harvey says that as the need has grown for resources, more have begun to form in St. Joe.

"I think it's starting to get better. I know at Missouri Western there's a group called Active Minds that deals with this and gets involved with college students, people are talking about it more," Harvey says.

The Out of Darkness walk for suicide prevention will be held Sunday to raise awareness of the rise in suicide rates.

Harvey says you can pre-register for the walk online, or you can register the day of, but it's asked that you arrive early before the walk begins.

"The walk starts actually at one, we have a ceremony and then we walk, but we ask you to come early to register," Harvey tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "Registration opens at noon, we will have a couple of food trucks there, some other things going on; music, fun, we have a good time."

The walk will be at the Bishop Leblond High School track and will run until 3pm. You can register online and find more information HERE.