Editor’s Note: This article addresses sensitive topics related to suicide and mental health. If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek support from a mental health professional or reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988.

Colored beads representing loved ones are laid out on a table at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Dutchess & Ulster Counties Walk on Sept. 28. Photo by Luke Sassa '24

More than 500 community members participated in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s third annual Dutchess & Ulster Counties Walk this past Saturday morning, aiming to raise awareness about local suicide prevention efforts in the Hudson Valley.

Among the participants were survivors of previous attempts and those who had lost a loved one. Despite the heavy emotions felt by many attendees, the event focused on providing hope for survivors, advocacy for suicide prevention and resources for those who need them most.

Prior to the walk, which took place on the Walkway Over the Hudson and began on the Highland side, over a dozen advocacy groups set up informational stands. In attendance were numerous healthcare organizations, mental health agencies and veterans affairs groups.

“I had an attempt back in 2021 and that brought me to volunteer in this organization,” said Andrew Crowe, the volunteer engagement coordination chair for the Hudson Valley AFSP chapter. “This event is a way for me to use my experience to educate, to build further community, to reduce stigma and overall to support a much-needed cause.”

Crowe and a few volunteers operated a stand where attendees could pick out a beaded necklace to wear during the walk. Various colored necklaces were available, each representing the specific role of a loved one affected by suicide. Participants wore beads to honor friends, parents, children, siblings and first responders. This allowed them to visually represent loved ones, while also acknowledging personal struggles and fostering a shared sense of experience.

Given the mental health struggles that military veterans often experience when returning from duty, multiple entities were on-site to provide resources for the military community. The Veteran Affairs of the Hudson Valley had a stand at the event, and they promoted suicide prevention initiatives for veterans in the region.

Also in attendance was Sergeant Alexander Stewart, an active duty service member who flew in from Fort Moore, Georgia to promote his book, “Unspoken Words: The Thoughts of a Soldier.” The book aims to help civilians gain a greater understanding of the struggles that those in the military endure, as Stewart seeks to create a “community of understanding, rather than just sympathy.”

Like many others at the event, the cause is intensely personal for Stewart.

“I’ve lost 33 friends to suicide while I was in the Army, and my brother passed away two years ago to suicide,” said Stewart. “The thankless jobs — police, military — we get overlooked when it comes to mental health or mental stress…In all these jobs, if you do reach out for help, it’s usually seen as a weakness.”

Sergeant Alexander Stewart promotes his book, “Unspoken Words: The Thoughts of a Soldier” at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Dutchess & Ulster Counties Walk on Sept. 28. Photo by Luke Sassa '24

At another table, employees from Nuvance Health at Vassar Hospital raised awareness about mental health risks currently facing first responders, particularly those in the medical field. They focused on providing people with the proper education and tools needed to prevent crises from occurring.

“Over the past couple of years, we’ve lost several coworkers in the [medical] community and in the hospital itself to mental health and suicide,” said Kaitlin Shea, an emergency room nurse at Vassar Hospital.

“If you have the right tools and the resources, it can get you through hard times,” added Fallon Meneses, an emergency room technician at Vassar who founded their suicide prevention task force.

Direct interactions between volunteers and the community provided potential life-saving support to those in need. Katie Castell, an employee from Astor Services for Family, operated a stand that shared counseling options, school programs and behavioral health resources. At one point, she spoke with a woman whose adult nephew struggles with depression, offering her contacts, websites and advice on how to form a safety plan.

“It’s a way for people to come up and be able to ask questions, maybe being they had these people on their mind but haven’t really reached out [previously],” said Castell.

Katie Castell, an employee from Astor Services for Family, holds a community resources pamphlet during the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Dutchess & Ulster Counties Walk on Sept. 28. Photo by Luke Sassa '24

With drug addiction being a pervasive issue that can increase the risk of suicide, multiple groups provided information to help the community prevent drug overdoses. The Dutchess County Department of Behavioral and Community Health ran a stand to promote Narcan training sessions and the 988 National Suicide Prevention Hotline; they also promoted their Empowerment Center, which is located across the street from the MidHudson Regional Hospital. The Center offers free individual services and group support to any adults struggling with mental health issues, and no diagnosis is needed.

Representing the Lexington Center for Recovery was peer support specialist Michael Ortiz. Ortiz works at the Center’s main street location in the City of Poughkeepsie, where he helps locals who struggle with addiction. The Center itself offers outpatient services and runs methadone clinics across the Hudson Valley.

Ortiz knew two people who lost their battle with addiction, and their stories have motivated his involvement.

“The people that I lost, it just stemmed from them isolating more and more. The signs were there, but you never really know,” said Ortiz. “You always go, ‘I can’t be the one,’ or ‘That doesn’t happen to me,’ and then you find out a little too late.”

An hour into the event, guest speakers addressed the hundreds of participants before the walk commenced. The event’s high turnout reflected broad community support behind suicide prevention advocacy, while also highlighting how many have been impacted by suicide, underscoring the ongoing need to continue addressing this cause.

Dutchess and Ulster County Communities Rally Behind Suicide Prevention

MARIST CIRCLE