Walking to help prevent suicide

On Sept. 18, the Long Beach Boardwalk was the gathering place for hundreds of walkers of all ages showing their support for Long Island Crisis Center and its mission to raise suicide awareness and prevention.

“Our goal is to spread the word that we all need to be aware of the warning signs of suicide among our family, friends and colleagues,” said Linda Leonard, executive director, “and that none of us can be bystanders when we see that someone we know is in crisis.”

The 3rd Annual “Let’s Walk, Let’s Talk…Stepping Together to Prevent Suicide” event raised more than $40,000, with net proceeds going to the Crisis Center’s Community Education Program. This program provides on-site workshops in Long Island schools for both students and professional staff, taking on the topics of suicide awareness, adolescent depression, self-injury, homophobia, cyber bullying, and others.

“While we know that these are not easy subjects to discuss,” added Leonard, “we know that open communication and early education can make a difference. And, in light of the recent headlines about adolescent/young adult suicide, we believe that we are at a critical juncture in raising everyone’s consciousness about suicide and the motivating crises in people’s lives that might bring them to make that choice.”