The Southeastern Utah Health Department along with the HOPE Squad will be hosting their Fourth Annual HOPE Walk on Friday, September 9 at 6:00 pm beginning at the Price City Peace Garden and it is open to all ages in the community. Participants are encouraged to wear yellow which is the symbol of suicide prevention.
“We are really excited to offer this – suicide prevention is something that everyone should come out and support to bring awareness to it – suicide prevention week is September 5th through the 11th nationally,” Debbie Marvidikis, Health Educator. “We are moving the location, last year we did the HOPE walk for suicide prevention at the trailhead south of Price on the Price trails, but this year we’re moving it to the Peace Gardens, so it’s going to start at 6:00 pm on September 9th.” Participants may walk, run or ride bikes up to Washington Park where they will be able to enjoy pizza and drinks provided by USU Eastern and Swire Coca-Cola. There will also be a few guest speakers, a release of memory balloons and live entertainment provided by JB Johnson and the Val Jensen Band.
The HOPE squad was established back in 2013 because of the rise in suicides in both Carbon and Emery Counties. The organization has made it an urgency to bring awareness and support to community members by educating them on the prevention of suicide. “We have had more than our share and that’s why it’s so important to bring awareness that suicide is preventable. For years’ people that there is nothing that we can do about that but that’s just not true. The good thing about it is that you don’t have to be a psychiatrist or a physician to save someone’s life, you just have to care,” stated Marvidikis. The organization offers training for families, church groups, and businesses. Just one person who gets the training on how to prevent suicide goes home and trains six other people; so it’s a great program that grows all by itself.
If you would like more information about the HOPE Squad or would like to be a part of the organization, you can call Debbie at the Health Department at 637-3671.