New event to raise awareness about suicide, funds for prevention
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Sept. 16, 2022) – Springvale Health Centers is holding a big get-together to support its suicide prevention efforts.
The agency’s inaugural Hope Lives event is Saturday at 5 Barrel Bullet Brewing Company on East High Avenue in New Philadelphia. Marketing and Fundraising Director Miles Riley says it kicks off at noon with a poker run and continues back at the brewery with a free concert.
“The first band, it’s actually me and Atom Lax, will be kicking off the event with music at 3 o’clock. We have Four on the Floor, Acoustified, Brothers, and Kearstin Clark. Every band plays for about an hour and 15 minutes and, basically. we’re going to go until they tell us we have to leave.”
Donations will be accepted during the event that also aims to eradicate the stigma surrounding mental health challenges that sometimes prevents people from seeking help when they need it.
“So the money that we raise from this event is really going to be used on awareness and just whatever we can do to help normalize the conversation surrounding discussions about mental health and suicide.”
Riley says Hope Lives came about after they were approached by a group of men who lost a friend to suicide wanting to do something to draw attention to the issue.
“They all helped out. We have a lot of volunteers to help serve food and clean up things as people come in and out. We’ll be selling Hope Lives t-shirts. Some people are familiar with those and really wanted their own Hope Lives t-shirt, so those will be for sale as well.”
He says planning is already underway for the next installment in 2023.
“Our last meeting was basically our first meeting for next year. So we just finalized a couple of last things Wednesday for this weekend, and then we were talking about what we can do to get things started for next year.”
Formerly known as Community Mental Healthcare, Springvale provides a wide range of behavioral health services and has a sliding fee scale for patients without insurance. The agency also operates 24-7 crisis hotlines in Tuscarawas and Carroll counties.