A decade ago, Yankton held its first suicide prevention awareness walk.
On Saturday morning, Bridging Yankton and United Way will be hosting the 10th annual Suicide Prevention Walk, starting at the amphitheater in Riverside Park.
Jesse Bailey, executive director of United Way of Greater Yankton, said that the walk has grown over the years.
“I’d say in the three years since I’ve been doing the event, we’ve had around 125 people or more,” he said. “I expect that many or more on Saturday.”
He told the Press & Dakotan how the walk is set up and who really is running things behind the scenes.
“United Way is the fiscal host for the Bridging Yankton Committee, but the committee itself is made up of community leaders from throughout the community,” Bailey said. “There are a lot of different folks representing a lot of different agencies. There’re some nonprofit agencies. The school district is represented. Department of Social Services is represented. It’s people who really have a vested interest in prevention of suicide.
“That group does all the work throughout the year. United Way does some administrative work, and we have a solid partnership with the Helpline Center out of Sioux Falls. We really have the right people at the table to help raise that awareness.”
In a press release issued through United Way for the event, it stated, “Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth and young adults in South Dakota. It is estimated that 85% of people in the United States will know someone who has died by suicide, and that one out of every five of those losses will be a close friend or relative.”
The event also serves as a fundraiser, with proceeds directly benefiting suicide-related agencies and education.
“We reach out to area businesses and ask for sponsorships for the event itself,” Bailey said. “All of those sponsorships, half of it will go to the Helpline Center for their 988 efforts throughout South Dakota, but mostly this part of the state; and then the other half stays with United Way, and then United Way fulfills venture grant requests with those funds that are all local within the Yankton area and are specifically for mental health needs.”
In previous years, proceeds have benefitted the new Haven of Hope counseling services, Lewis & Clark Behavioral Health’s new facility, 3 Strings Method, Yankton Middle School Youth Frontiers Courage Retreats, Sheltered Reality presentations, Helpline’s Text 4 Hope Program at Yankton High School, Second Step Social Emotional Learning Curriculum, SD HSC’s Zero Suicide Initiative, Boys & Girls Club, “Be Yourself Club.” Yankton Area Mental Wellness Conference presenters and many other local behavioral health awareness programs.
Bailey said Saturday morning will start off with registration at 8:15 a.m. in the amphitheater, where there will be a guest speaker and a balloon launch in memory of those lost to suicide. The walk will march to the Meridian Plaza, then across the bottom of the Meridian Bridge and return across the top of the bridge.
“It’s just a good, impactful event, and we have a guest speaker who will talk about her story with suicide and how that’s impacted her life,” Bailey said. “People will have the opportunity to enter names of loved ones in their lives who have been lost to suicide, and they’re honored that way. It’s a good time for people to come together and get some comfort. There’s a counseling table available if someone feels like they need to speak with someone during the event. It’s really well thought out and just a good morning of memories.”
For more information about Bridging Yankton, the Helpline Center or the upcoming Step Forward to Prevent Suicide Walk on Saturday, Sept. 12, visit yanktonunitedway.org/stepforward or call the United Way at 605-665-6766.
