8th Annual Jerry’s Walk Shines a Light on Suicide Awareness and Removes Stigma Around Mental Health

Today, the 8th Annual Jerry’s Walk took place at the St. Clairsville Memorial for Suicide Awareness in Ohio. Participants had various opportunities to engage in the event, such as walking, signing up for the auction, donating a suicide pinwheel in memory of someone they may have lost to suicide, and interacting with mental health experts from Belmont County and the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation to access community resources.

The event aimed to reduce the stigma surrounding suicide, particularly for older males like Jerry. Jerry, who died by suicide at age 75, inspired the walk organized by his daughter, Sandy Williams. The event served to raise awareness and promote a better understanding of the importance of mental health.

Sandy Williams shared her personal experience during the event, stating that when her father passed away, they were uninformed about suicide and its impacts. She emphasized that despite being in 2024, suicide is still a taboo topic for many people. Williams stressed the need to remove the stigma around mental health and encourage open conversations about struggles and suicidal thoughts. The message was clear: “Let us help you. Don’t hide.”