Strides for Struggles hopes to fight stigma
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Adults and students walked to bring awareness of the struggles with mental health and suicide in our society.
Members of the Gilpin High School Interact Club welcome walkers to their Strides for Struggles walk to raise awareness during Suicide Awareness Month.
Members of the Gilpin High School volleyball team walk around the track to bring awareness about suicide prevention.
Participants at the Strides for Struggles walk hosted by the Gilpin High School Interact Club.
Supporters of all ages from the school community showed up to walk during Gilpin High School Interact Club's annual September event.
GILPIN COUNTY — The Gilpin High School Interact Club helped make suicide awareness more visible with their Strides for Struggles walk on September 17.
This is an annual event for the Gilpin School Interact Club. The group is aware there is a stigma that surrounds suicide, and that taking steps to bring awareness helps to break the stigma.
September is National Suicide Awareness Prevention Month. Heather Fuller, the staff sponsor for the Interact Club, said the students in the club organized the event, which took place along the school's track. The walkers were students (including the volleyball team) and parents.
The Gilpin School Interact Club will be donating half of their proceeds to Second Wind Fund (thesecondwindfund.org/). Second Wind Fund connects youth who are at risk for suicide with mental health treatment. They help to remove the social and financial barriers to receive assistance.
The Interact Club also supports Resilience1220 (resilience1220.org/). Resilience1220 provides therapy sessions for youth ages 12 - 20 in Evergreen, Conifer, Bailey, and Clear Creek, Gilpin, and Park Counties. Their counselors address stress, anxiety, depression, and suicide prevention.
The CDC reports that in 2024, suicide was responsible for 48,824 deaths in the US.
Suicide Awareness Month is an opportunity to have honest, though potentially difficult, conversations around preventing suicide, supporting those impacted by suicide, and finding the mental health resources for those in need.
Their message is that you are not alone. There are people who can support, and help with resources.
Everyone can help by genuinely checking in with each other, participating in awareness events, listening without judgment, and knowing resources if someone needs help.
Resources:
If you're in an emergency, dial 911.
If you're experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call or text 988 for support.
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, Colorado Crisis Services is here to help—call 1-844-493-8255 or text "help" to 741741 for immediate assistance.
The Gilpin High School Interact Club is looking forward to hosting a donation drive and A Day Without Hate later in the school year. Keep your eyes and ears open to learn about the good work that the Interact Club is doing at Gilpin High School.
