There are approximately 15 confirmed suicides in Centre County each year, and in an effort to bring awareness to the issue, the Centre County board of commissioners officially proclaimed Saturday, Sept. 10, as Suicide Awareness and Prevention Day and the month of September as Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month.
Marisa Vicere, president and founder of the Jana Marie Foundation, and Al Vicere, vice president, visited the commissioners Aug. 16 to discuss the problems facing young people in Centre County and to raise awareness for a problem that is the second-leading cause of death for people between the ages of 10 and 24 in Pennsylvania.
‘Ninety-five percent of suicides are preventable,’ said Marisa Vicere. ‘We need to continue bringing this issue to light, and do what we can to preserve the young lives here in Centre County.’
She said a number of initiatives are under way in Centre County to promote mental wellness in an effort to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide. She distributed yellow ribbons with the wording, ‘Step Up! for Mental Wellness,’ to the commissioners and explained these ribbons with be on display at various locations in Centre County during the month of September.
‘The ribbon represents a commitment by our community to make mental wellness a top priority,’ she said. ‘We want our citizens to be able to get the help they need without fear of prejudice and discrimination.
‘Displaying this ribbon represents our community’s way of changing the way we treat, communicate and support individuals working toward mental wellness.’
The fourth annual Centre County Suicide Prevention and Awareness Day event is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 10, at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center. ‘An Evening of Hope, Healing and Remembrance’ begins at 5:30 p.m. with a community brown bag picnic, followed by performances and presentations. At 8 p.m. there will be a candle lighting ceremony.
Vicere said there will be resources and educational materials available. The event is free and open to the public,
For more information, visit www.janamariefoundation.org.
