Chalk the Walk honors Suicide Prevention Month

ELIZABETHTOWN | "It's okay not to be okay." "You are loved." "Remember to breathe." "Every day is a new beginning." "Help each other." "I will listen because you matter." These are examples of words that have been written on sidewalks across Essex County for Chalk the Walk & Have the Talk, a program to recognize Suicide Prevention Month, organized by the Essex County Suicide Prevention Coalition. September is recognized nationally as Suicide Awareness Month. All month, healthcare providers, schools and organizations use it as an opportunity to engage the community with words and action, to reduce the stigma surrounding getting help with mental health concerns and encourage residents to support each other. Terri Morse, director for Essex County Mental Health Services, said they borrowed the idea for Chalk the Walk from another county that did it a few years ago. She liked the positive outlook it brought to discussing suicide. "Sometimes the topic of suicide prevention can be more focused on loss rather than on celebrating life," Morse said. "We think Chalk the Walk is a way to focus more on preserving life than it is about focusing on the sadness of those who we lost. And it's important to acknowledge that too." Morse said a student in Essex County last year who attended a school that had "chalked the walk," came to school one day, and saw words of encouragement written on the sidewalk. Later that day, she confided in her friend that she was struggling. "I think more people are struggling now than in the past because of COVID-19 and financial reasons," Morse said. "There's just a lot going on right now and I'm actually very inspired by our suicide rates, despite the fact that we're really going through some rough experiences recently." The suicide rates in Essex County in the last few years have been: 11 in 2013, 11 in 2014, 14 in 2015, 3 in 2016, 2 in 2017, 3 in 2018, 3 in 2019, 4 in 2020, 6 in 2021 and 1, to date, in 2022. The Essex County Suicide Prevention Coalition was formed in 2014. "I think people are becoming more comfortable in making sure that we're checking in with one another and we are reducing stigma," Morse said. "As much as COVID was very difficult for us to get through, and we are still going through it, I think there have been some positives about it because it's allowed us to connect in a way that maybe we didn't always connect in the past." Anyone can participate in Chalk the Walk by decorating their sidewalk with positive affirmations and words of encouragement. Participants can share their walks on Facebook at #essexchalkthewalk. Morse said the Essex County Suicide Prevention Coalition is experiencing a resurgence and looking for volunteers to help with upcoming projects. Since November is Men's Health Month, the coalition hopes to use the month to spread awareness about men's mental health, because from 2020 to now, 10 of 11 suicides in Essex County have been adult males. For more information, visit https://essexcountyny.gov/essex-county-suicide-prevention-coalition/.

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Chalk the Walk honors Suicide Prevention Month

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