Largest Suicide Prevention Event to be Held in Denver
On Sunday, September 21 at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds join over 3,000 people for the largest suicide prevention event in the nation. Denver hosts this unique annual fundraiser where participants can choose a timed 5k run, a three-mile walk, a three-mile bike ride, or a one-mile walk. Proceeds benefit the
Second Wind Fund, a non-profit organization that urgently connects suicidal teens with a therapist in their neighborhood-for free. The day promotes awareness and prevention in a fun, family friendly environment, making it a comfortable place to talk about such a heavy, but important issue.
Brandon Oney, a SecondWind teen ambassador says, "Teen suicide affects us all, especially in Colorado. This is a way for Denver to come together to prevent our teen suicide rankings from getting any higher."
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and Colorado ranks sixth in the nation for the highest number of suicides. Studies show that in any given year, as many as 25 percent of teens have more than passing thoughts of suicide. Second Wind Fund of Metro Denver has a proven method to decrease the rate of teen suicide.
"We have two keys to our success," says Second Wind's executive director and co-founder Jeff Lamontagne. "First, we have an extensive network of 90 of the highest-quality, licensed mental health therapists who specialize in adolescent issues, and who all work at areduced rate. Second, we arrange one-on-one therapy within hours of receiving a referral of a suicidal teen-and we provide enough sessions, as often as needed, until the suicidal thinking is changed into life-long coping skills."
Second Wind is the only organization of its kind in the country, and it works. In counties where Second Wind has helped more than 100 kids, the teen suicide rate has dropped significantly. To date, Second Wind has received 1,700 referrals from 300 Denver-area schools and all of Second Wind's data shows those 1,700 kids are still alive. One of the primary sources of funding for this innovative program is their annual walk/run/ride event.
"We remember those we've lost to teen suicide with a white dove release, but the whole day is geared toward celebrating life," said Lamontagne. "We want to make sure it is a fun event for the whole family so that the topic of teen suicide can be discussed in a lighter setting and isn't swept under the carpet. Suicide is preventable, and the first step is making sure this topic is discussed in every day conversations."
"It's really like a huge block party," says Oney. "There is a bouncy castle and face painting for the kids, a concert, a huge lunch, massages, and a free t-shirt! It's an easy, fun way for the whole community to come out and do something to prevent teens from choosing suicide as an option. It's not just someone else's problem. Everyone knows four teenagers and statistics show that one of them is thinking about suicide some time this year. All you have to do to help save a young life is come join the fun."
What if your support of Second Wind could save a young life in your community? To find out how to participate in Second Wind's event, create your team or volunteer in another way, contact Second Wind Fund at 303-763-1775 or visitwww.swfmd.org.