By Madey Jacks and Jessica Richardson
Walk Date: 09/10/2016
Walk Location: Celebration Plaza-White River State Park
Check-in/Registration Time: 09/10/2016 at 2:00 pm
Walk Begins: 3:30 pm
Walk Ends: 5:00 pm
The CG Lifesavers team is an organized group walking in the Out of the Darkness Walk on September 10, 2016. The Out of the Darkness walk is a community event sponsored by the local chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
The CG Lifesavers team has already raised $385 out of their $1,500 goal. This year’s walk is unique because students are joining forces with staff to raise money and spread awareness about this important issue.
“This is the first year we have asked for student involvement because it’s something that affects a lot of students,” Mr. Daniel Weems, CGHS social worker, said.
Suicide claims the life of an American every 12.77 minutes.
Suicide is an issue that is the second leading cause of death in Indiana’s youth.
“Each year one out of six Indiana students seriously consider suicide, with one out of eleven attempting,” Dr. Lindsey O’Haver, CG School Psychologist, said. “[Indiana is] ranked first in the nation for teens thinking about suicide and second in the nation for teens that attempt suicide.”
While the walk aims to raise money to fund suicide research and educational programs, it hopes to spread awareness of the issue.
“The hope this year and moving forward, especially moving forward, is to have a huge involvement from the student body,” O’Haver said.
Many times a student only becomes involved in suicide prevention if they know a close friend or family member dealing with these issues. However, there are students who deal with these issues every day and never say a word. If you are a student struggling with thoughts of suicide or have a friend who is, please reach out. Resources are available.
“The first thing they need to do is to talk to someone and hopefully an adult in the building,” O’Haver said. “If it’s while they are here at school and they could go to any adult in the building and that adult could get them to the appropriate person.”
Walk Sign-Up: http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&teamID=109598
Links for Help:
http://suicidepreventionhotline.org
https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov
