Bethany’s Hope walk to prevent suicide slated for Saturday (Sept. 16)

An annual suicide awareness and prevention walk is planned for Saturday (Sept. 16) in honor of 16-year-old Whitley County High School student Bethany Faith Lawson, who took her own life in 2018.

“Bethany’s Hope would like to invite you to come walk with us. Help us spread the message that there is hope and there is help,” a flier for the event reads. “The National Suicide Crisis Line is 988. If you are struggling with thoughts of self-harm or suicide, please call 988. Talk to someone and choose to stay because you are fearfully and wonderfully made and tomorrow needs you in it.”

In August 2018 over the course of a 24-hour time period, Lawson became one of three people, and one of two teenagers in Whitley County to die by suspected suicide over a 24-hour time period.

Bethany’s Hope was founded in dedication and memory of Lawson as a suicide prevention, awareness and support program in Williamsburg.

The Bethany’s Hope walk will take place on Saturday, Sept. 16, at The Green Space on Main in downtown Williamsburg.

The one-mile walk starts at 9 a.m., and will be led by 82^nd Rep. Nick Wilson and his predecessor, Regina Huff.

The national suicide prevent line can be reached 24 hours a day by dialing 988. The suicide crisis text line can be reached by texting “HOME” to 741741.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month.

In Kentucky, there is a death by suicide every 11 hours. For every completed suicide, there are also 25 suicide attempts where the person doesn’t die.

Statistics also show that someone, who dies by suicide, affects at least six people.

The Youth Behavior Risk Survey shows that 18 percent of middle school students in Kentucky had suicidal thoughts, 10.5 percent of middle school students had a plan for how they were going to kill themselves, and 6 percent attempted suicide.

In Kentucky high schools, 15 percent of students had thoughts of suicide, 13 percent had a plan and 8 percent attempted suicide.

Your local community mental health center, Cumberland River Behavioral Health (Comp Care), will see anybody. It can be reached at (606) 549-1440 or (606) 528-7010.

Below are some links to resources you can seek if you or someone you care about needs help.

• Zero Suicide in Healthcare and Behavioral Healthcare – www.zerosuicide.org.
• Suicide Prevention Resource Center – www.sprc.org.
• National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention – http://actionallianceforsuicideprevention.org.
• American Association of Suicidology – www.suicidology.org.
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – www.afsp.org.
• National Council for Behavioral Health – http://www.thenationalcouncil.org.