By: Jewel Dickerman
The Suicide Prevention Walks, which began in 2007 through the efforts of Jody Miller in affiliation with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), have long served as a beacon of hope and awareness in the community. Originally held at Promised Land State Park under the name *Out of the Darkness*, the event continued at that venue until 2014. That year, the tragic shooting of a State Trooper by Eric Frein in Blooming Grove forced a relocation of the event. Since 2015, the walks have taken place at Wallenpaupack Area High School, except 2020, when the event went virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Linda Vose and Donna Decker, both instrumental in the Northern Suicide Prevention Initiative (NSPI) during their tenure at the hospital, played key roles in organizing the event until their retirement. In 2018-19, Mrs. McGinnis stepped in to help carry out the walk’s mission.
In 2024, Aevidum, a student-led group dedicated to mental health awareness, was invited to participate for the first time. The event, held on Saturday, September 14, saw registration begin at 10:30 a.m., with the walk starting at 11:00 a.m. at Wallenpaupack Area High School.
The day turned out to be a resounding success. Organizers were thrilled and deeply appreciative of Aevidum’s involvement. In fact, they announced that they would be helping to fund Aevidum’s events for the coming year. One highlight included a presentation, where Joe Pettinato delivered a speech. While there weren’t many photos from the event, it’s clear that Aevidum’s presence left a lasting positive impact on the community’s ongoing suicide prevention efforts.
