Light the Night 5K for Suicide Prevention

Thu, 02/24/2022 - 11:43am

Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks, Howard County Department of Health, and Bullseye Running to host Light the Night 5K for Suicide Prevention - http://www.bullseyerunning.com/event/light-the-night-5k-for-suicide-prevention/. Light the Night 5k for Suicide Prevention is more than just a race; It is a county-wide acknowledgment that we support and care for those struggling with suicidal thoughts and/or the loss of someone to suicide. The Howard County Health Department reported that suicide was the leading cause of death for 15-19 year-olds in Howard County from 2014 to 2018. This data was gathered before the pandemic, meaning it does not capture the effects of isolation-related depression and financial stressors on families. To begin taking much-needed action, I created Light the Night 5k to raise funds for our local Grassroots and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Maryland Chapter. The event will also provide suicide prevention resource packets and combat the stigma surrounding mental health discussions.