According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control, suicide is the third leading cause of death for people 15 to 19 years old. For adults, it is the eleventh cause of death.
Suicide prevention is about learning how to recognize when a friend or someone you love is feeling low, disconnected or isolated. It is also about learning positive coping skills. One of the best practices is to find ways to connect with others. Being connected to friends and family through meaningful conversation and activity is a healthy way to combat negative feelings.
The Wimberley Independent School District’s Wellness Center has teamed up with The Greater Mercy Foundation and Wimberley Parks and Recreation to hold a Suicide Awareness Walk on September 14 at 9 a.m. The brief but meaningful walk will begin and end at the Blue Hole Regional Park Pavilion where participants can attend a Health and Wellness Fair.
The walk’s theme is “Connection is Key,” and it underscores the all-important role that community and support play in mental health and well-being.
When connection and other healthy activity is not enough to overcome negative feelings, it is important to know how to connect to people who can offer support, like licensed mental health providers. In school, a student may connect with the school counselor who can ultimately connect the family to appropriate resources.
At Wimberley High School, students have access to the Wellness Center as part of its schoolwide guidance counseling program. Every student has the opportunity to utilize the Wellness Center at the discretion of their teachers or during lunch or Texan Time.
The Wellness Center serves as a bridge for students who need support before returning to the academic setting. It provides a safe space to talk to a trusted adult, absorb psychoeducational lessons, have a quiet space for a snack, or time to manage emotions, thoughts and behaviors. It also provides research-based, short-term interventions aimed at improving academic and social outcomes. The Wellness Center can also provide outside referrals for more intensive support.
In the community, adults can connect to mental health providers through their doctor, their employer, or through local resources such as The Greater Mercy Foundation. The foundation connects adults, youth and children to mental health professionals and services and has a local referral list on their website called “T.H.E. List.”
For more information or to get involved in the Suicide Prevention Walk, visit https:// thegreatermercyfoundation.org/ connection-is-key.
