The 8th Annual Jerry’s Walk took place today at the St. Clairsville Memorial for Suicide Awareness in St. Clairsville, OH. Participants had the opportunity to walk, sign up for the auction, donate a suicide pinwheel in memory of someone they may have lost to suicide, and interact with mental health experts from Belmont County and the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation to access community resources.
Sandy Williams, President of Jerry’s Walk, shared her personal experience, stating that when her father passed away by suicide at the age of 75, 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.”
The event aimed to reduce the stigma surrounding suicide, particularly for older males like Jerry. Jerry inspired the walk organized by his daughter Sandy Williams as a tribute to him and as an effort to raise awareness about mental health issues. The event served as a platform for individuals who have experienced loss due to suicide to come together and support one another while also promoting resources available within their community through local mental health experts from Belmont County and the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation. Participants could participate in a walk or simply donate a pinwheel in memory of someone they had lost or sign up for an auction where they could bid on items donated by local businesses or individuals supporting the cause.