Runners will hit the road next month to raise awareness around suicide and the grief and pain experienced from losing loved ones to this disease.
Death by suicide impacts all ages and groups, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which reports that suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-34, the fourth-leading among people ages 35-44, and the fifth-leading cause among people ages 45-54.
Despite new research and understanding, in 2021 there are still too many lives lost to suicide, many of them individuals who felt hopeless and unable to find the help they needed.
There’s good news locally in that Greater New Bedford and Bristol County statistics show that suicide deaths are down so far in 2021 compared to this time last year. And, as mental health becomes a more acceptable topic of conversation, so too is suicide more easily talked about.
If you’re interested in contributing to this increasing awareness or have lost a loved one to suicide and want to honor them, Child and Family Services will hold a 5K run to do that at Buttonwood Park in October.
The organization is hosting the run for those who’ve been lost to suicide and those who are struggling with personal mental health challenges and they invite you to join them. Whatever your reason for running, the organization says, you'll be making a difference.
The 5K run begins at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 17 at Buttonwood Park in New Bedford. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. Details and registration information can be found here.