More attention needed on suicide prevention

In response to the July 24 article “Picking up the pieces. Mount Vernon stops reeling, starts healing after suicides.'”

First, my sincere sympathies to the families of suicide loss. Second, I applaud the Mount Vernon community for the actions taken to help students, parents and faculty cope with the tragedies. While this article brought attention to suicide and a community's attempts to recover, more attention on prevention is needed.

If you are in crisis, please contact a crisis line: Foundation2 Crisis Center at (319) 362-2174 or National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-TALK (8255). If you are struggling to cope with the suicide loss of a loved one, know that support is available through Foundation2's Suicide Survivor Bereavement Support Group.

I also encourage participation in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's upcoming “Out of the Darkness Walk” to be held Sept. 17 at Noelridge Park. This walk is an opportunity for the community to come together to remember those who have died by suicide, to support survivors of suicide loss and to promote awareness and prevention. The walk also is an opportunity to raise funds for local suicide prevention efforts.

For more information, visit www.outofthedarkness.org or contact CR.OutofDarkness@gmail.com.

Maureen Olson

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Cedar Rapids