Annual Suicide Awareness Banquet

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Addiction, suicide prevention and mental illness are increasingly becoming ordinary concerns that today’s healthcare and social workers are having to face.

Muskingum County Suicide Prevention Coalition Member Dr. Vicki Whitacre announced an upcoming event that honors community members who combat suicide and its surrounding issues. 

“We’re having the suicide awareness banquet that we have annually for the six county suicide prevention coalition, in the six county area on the 25th,” Whitacre said. We are recognizing people who have been working hard for suicide prevention. The ‘Hero for Hope’ award is for those people who have contributed to spreading information about suicide awareness, doing trainings, working very hard to raise awareness.

Whitacre explained that suicide is not limited to any group of people and that there are multiple avenues available for people to seek help and communication about suicide, as well as find more information and how to participate in the upcoming ‘Heroes for Hope’ event.

“Well you can go to the websites, the www.mhrs.org, there’s lots of information there on how to reach and become part of coalitions. The brochure is available if you go to the calendar and click on the date of the 25th to register for the dinner. And we have it every year, so you can look for it every year,” Whitacre said

The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation has a website that offers counselor training events and by dialing 9-8-8 you can directly connect you with a suicide crisis counselor.