Suicide awareness walk being held this weekend in Williamsburg in honor of Whitley Co. student

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

“Help us let everyone, who may be struggling, know that they do not need to be silent. We are listening. We are here. We want to stop suicide and help them continue. We must stop the stigma – It’s OK to not be OK and we are here for you,” reads a flier for the event.

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. 24, at River Fog Park in downtown Williamsburg.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the one-mile walk starts at 9 a.m.

The walk will be led by 82^nd Rep. Regina Huff and her successor, Nick Wilson, who is running unopposed to replace her as representative.

The national suicide prevention 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.

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

• Cumberland River Behavioral Health (Comp Care) – (606) 549-1440 or (606) 528-7010.
• 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.