Breaking the Silence: The 8th Annual Jerry’s Walk for Suicide Awareness in Ohio Fosters Conversations around Mental Health

Today, the 8th Annual Jerry’s Walk took place at the St. Clairsville Memorial for Suicide Awareness in Ohio. The event was organized by Sandy Williams, daughter of Jerry, who tragically took his own life at the age of 75. The walk aimed to raise awareness about suicide and promote a better understanding of mental health.

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 shared her personal experience and emphasized that despite being in 2024, suicide is still a taboo topic for many people. She 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.”