Within the wrestle to forestall suicide, some of the efficient instruments can also be one of many easiest.
Suicide has emerged as a urgent well being disaster dealing with Indiana, and your complete United States. Between 2017 and 2019, greater than 3,000 individuals died by suicide all through the state, in keeping with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. In Johnson County, 13.4 individuals per 100,000 died by suicide between 2014 and 2018.
However whereas suicide tears aside lives and has far-reaching penalties, native consultants have discovered a precious methodology in addressing it — encouraging individuals to attach socially.
“Supporting one another is the most important protecting issue, and coming collectively and connecting. Clearly, it’s been a foul time on a number of fronts, however there must be much more consciousness about this,” mentioned Hope Thompson, mission coordinator for Upstream Prevention. “Suicide is a matter in our group. It might occur to anyone, even when individuals suppose it received’t occur to anybody they know. So you need to construct these protecting elements.”
Fostering group connections is the central focus of the inaugural Hope 4 Johnson County: We’re Stronger Collectively occasion. The free gathering deliberate Sunday at Dollie’s Farm in Franklin will present actions, video games, ice cream and reside music all whereas elevating consciousness of suicide.
The centerpiece of the occasion will likely be a flower wall, the place flower by flower, the tragedy of suicide will come into focus. Attendees can place a fresh-cut flower from the farm on the show to attract consideration to the problem.
“We needed to boost consciousness in a approach that’s participating and extra enjoyable. Speaking about suicide isn’t essentially enjoyable. So it is a approach to get individuals’s consideration with out making it a tragic, gloomy form of occasion and specializing in these protecting elements,” Thompson mentioned.
Hope 4 Johnson County got here collectively as members of the Suicide Prevention Coalition and Upstream Prevention, a company that goals to help optimistic psychological well being, lower suicides and handle substance abuse in Johnson County, deliberate their actions for Suicide Consciousness and Prevention Month in September. Their hope was to create an out of doors exercise that will convey individuals collectively.
On the similar time, they have been aware of the continued pandemic and the right way to maintain a big occasion safely.
“Our greatest focus was on connecting individuals. These helps we now have with different individuals is the most important protecting issue,” Thompson mentioned. “We needed to do an occasion round that that embraces social connections however in an outdoor, secure form of approach.”
The answer got here in partnering with Dollie’s Farm. Positioned on the outskirts of Franklin, the 5-acre farm options almost 70 sorts of flowers and crops, every little thing from mint to asters to coneflowers, with the spotlight being row after row of lavender. Homeowners Tricia and Tim Wilson host flower-centric occasions all year long of their superbly saved gardens, and supplied up the farm at no cost for the occasion.
With the situation in thoughts, organizers mapped out actions to maintain individuals of all ages entertained. Benjamin’s Ice Cream truck will likely be on web site offering sweets for guests, and music will likely be taking part in all through the occasion. The primary 100 individuals who attend will obtain a $4 coupon, to go towards ice cream or a you-pick bouquet from Dollie’s Farm.
Info on suicide prevention will likely be obtainable, and folks can decide up “A Flicker of Hope,” a kids’s ebook by Julia Prepare dinner that focuses on resilience and normalizing asking for assist, which will likely be obtainable at no cost whereas provides final. Individuals can even enter raffles to win prizes resembling Indy Eleven tickets and passes to Vacation World.
The farm already options video games resembling yard dominoes, cornhole and big Jenga, which will likely be arrange and obtainable for individuals to mingle and play collectively.
“We needed individuals to have the ability to interact in these sorts of issues collectively,” Thompson mentioned.
Probably the most visually placing facet of the occasion is the flower wall. Individuals will be capable to add flowers to the construction,
“It’s an emblem to honor somebody they misplaced,” Thompson mentioned, “or in the event that they wish to increase consciousness or unfold hope.”
If you happen to go
Hope 4 Johnson County: We’re Stronger Collectively
What: A group occasion encouraging social connections whereas elevating consciousness about suicide.
When: 3-5 p.m. Sunday
The place: Dollie’s Farm, 3961 N. CR 425E, Franklin
What will likely be included: Guests will be capable to play garden video games, take pleasure in ice cream from Benjamin’s and enter free raffles for prizes. Info will likely be obtainable on suicide prevention sources. Individuals are additionally inspired so as to add to a flower wall to honor somebody misplaced to suicide, to boost consciousness of it or to unfold hope to others.
Value: Free
Info: upstreamprevention.org
