Suicide Prevention Walk slated for this Sunday in Malta

A day of reflection, tribute, and communication will take place at the second annual Phillips County Suicide Prevention Walk which will start on Sunday, September 30, at 2 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park before making its way around Malta and ending at the VFW Club.

Phillips County Health Nurse Jenny Tollefson said that September is Suicide Prevention Month and that this year’s event will be held on a Sunday in hopes of accommodating more participants.

“Everyone is so busy with sports on Saturdays that we thought we might get more people at the event,” she said. “But we were so pleased with the turnout last year and we had over 50 people who signed up and walked. We were thrilled with the numbers last year and hope to exceed them this year.”

Tollefson said that registration for the event starts at 1:30 p.m. (though people can sign up earlier to ensure they receive a t-shirt honoring the day…everyone who makes a $50 donation or more receives a shirt.) She said that there is no registration fee for the walk, donations only, and all proceeds will be given to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) which has a Montana Chapter which aims at having the money used locally to further the cause.

“People can just come out and support too, you don’t have to make a donation if you are unable,” she said.

There will also be a table set up for information from the Montana Chapter for Suicide Prevention as well as a memorial table. Tollefson said Pastor Kent Gordon will give an opening prayer and be the speaker for the day. Following his presentation, the walk will commence, from the park to the hospital and finish at the Malta VFW Club.

“We are hoping people will stay for the social aspect at the VFW,” she said. “People can visit and have some refreshments.”

The walk will cover three miles and people are encouraged to tread at their own pace. It is estimated that the walk will take about an hour to complete. Tollefson said people who can’t walk the route are encouraged to come to the opening ceremony and then meet at the VFW Club for the end of the event at approximately 3 p.m.

“Most people in this area are aware that Montana’s suicide rate is higher than the national average suicide rate based on our population,” Tollefson said. “We want to make sure that we are getting that awareness out there and we have had some cases that are close to home, some young men that we have lost. And some older men that we have lost. We just want to make sure that we are not forgetting about these people and that we pay tribute to them and support their families and the people that are left behind.”

For more information about Sunday’s walk, contact Tollefson at 654-2521 or [email protected].