Date Set for Annual Suicide Awareness and Prevention Walk

A local organization is taking steps to prevent one of the leading causes of death in the United States.

With the mission to help save lives, the Adams County Suicide Awareness and Prevention (ACSAP) is hosting its fourth annual suicide prevention walk on September 21st at the Adams County Fairgrounds.

Adams County Suicide Awareness and Prevention (ACSAP) is a committee dedicated to raising awareness and preventing suicide, even if it is just one life. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, in the United States, a person dies by suicide every 13.3 minutes, claiming more than 39,500 lives each year.

“This year, we are pleased to announce that the walk is free to the public, so that we may raise even more awareness of suicide,” said committee member Jazz Osman. Shirts will be on sale at the walk for $15 each. According to Osman, ACSAP has had approximately 150 participants in each past event. According to Osman, the goal of the walk is to remember lost loved ones, give hope to those who suffer, and raise awareness. All proceeds will benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Adams County Suicide Awareness and Prevention activities.

“Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. Each year 44,965 Americans die by suicide. For every one suicide, 25 attempt it. Just in Ohio, there were 1,707 suicides in 2016. Those numbers hurt my heart. My heart belongs to a man who became a suicide statistic. A quote that still resonates with me is, ‘It’s not the statistics that make suicide real, it’s when you love one of the numbers.’ But if I had known more about suicide before it became real for me, then maybe I could have saved him. Since I didn’t, I want to help others now, in his memory. I don’t want others to ever feel the pain of losing someone to suicide or lose their own life to suicide, as there are ways to prevent suicide. ACSAP helps in preventing suicide by raising awareness, giving information on suicide and mental health, and pointing sufferers and survivors towards help” said Osman.

Members of the Adams County Suicide Awareness and Prevention includes: Jazz Osman, Jill Cox, Jade Osman, Jessica Dillow, Jaycee Cox, Freida Dotson, Marie Ayres, Deanna Motts, Emily Grooms, Davina Cooper, and Jessica Fooce.

Registration starts at 6:30 pm and the walk begins at 7:30 pm. For more information contact Adams County Suicide Awareness and Prevention on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ACSAPstandwithus/