The HOPE Squad is excited to be hosting a few events in conjunction with National Suicide Prevention Month in September. All of these events are family-friendly to help raise awareness of suicide prevention.
“So, it’s Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and the particular week that we focus on is beginning September 8th through the 14th and we got multiple activities in both Carbon and Emery county,” said Suicide Prevention Specialist, Amanda McIntosh. The free activities planned for the week are movie night, a candlelight vigil and a community walk.
The first activity is a movie in the park that will be held on Monday, September 9 at 7:30 pm at the Carbon County Fairgrounds. “We will be showing Kevin Hines’ movie Suicide the Ripple Effect. Kevin Hines is a gentleman that jump from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and lived to tell about it. He was able to re-focus his energies and created a movement #beheretomorrow,” said McIntosh. This film is an inspiring documentary of strength of perseverance. Guests are urged to bring their lawn chairs, blankets and invite friends and neighbors to join them. Sponsors for the event include Four Corners Community Behavioral Health and Market Express who will donate popcorn for the evening.
“On Tuesday, September 10, that’s actually World Suicide Awareness Day so everybody in the world will be lighting a candle at 8:00 pm in honor of the loved ones they have lost to suicide. So we will be holding a Candle Light Vigil at the Peace Gardens in Price starting at 7:30 pm we’re going to have live music and the health department will supply the candles,” explained McIntosh. The Emery County event will take place at the courthouse in Castle Dale. This is a great opportunity to come together as a community to support anyone who has been in despair or affected by suicide.
The week will close with the annual community walk on Friday, September 13. “Finishing the week with our Seventh Annual HOPE Walk that will again be taking place at the Price Peace Gardens and that begins at 7:00 pm. This is a huge event that we look forward to every year because it brings everybody from the community, whether they have suffered a loss to suicide, have been in that suicidal mind frame or just people that want to support their loved ones in this journey and it always brings a big crowd,” stated McIntosh. The walk is open to all ages to honor families, as well as survivors of suicide. Event organizers encourage attendees to wear yellow, which is the symbol of suicide prevention.
If you would like more information about the HOPE Squad or would like to be a part of the organization, you can call Amanda McIntosh at the Health Department at 637-3671.