Relif is a nonprofit organization founded to provide relief to first responders, first responders organizations, and their families, hosted its inaugural First Responders Suicide Prevention 5K Run/Walk on September 24, 2022. This event commemorated the installment of Law Enforcement Suicide Awareness Day, issued into Georgia law on September 26, 2021. The run/walk brought together communities of Fire, EMS, Military, and Law Enforcement to fellowship, as we recognize the impact of recurrent exposure to critical incidents on the mental health of first responders. Relif partnered with Next Step Counseling. This event supports the mission of Relif to preserve the life of first responders through programming such as trauma-focused individual therapy, crisis de-escalation, mental health, and suicide prevention training and wellness checks to local departments.
This event occurred at Strong Rock Christian School in Locust Grove, GA. The morning was filled with excitement, laughter, sunshine and cheer as volunteers greeted participants, coordinated registration, distributed t-shirts, and encouraged runners/walkers along the race trail. With a whopping 80+ participants, we were humbled by the support in raising awareness of suicide prevention among first responders. With immense gratitude, we thanked each participant for their commitment to breaking the stigma of mental and first responders.
To date, 170 first responders have lost their lives to suicide this year, that was reported. While this number has decreased by 5% from last year, awareness of this pandemic is still high, and lives are still being lost. Of the 170 reported suicides, 43 of those deaths were in the state of GA. That is roughly 25%, a number, in my opinion, that is too high for a preventable death.
Relif will be hosting its annual walk/run next year on September 9, 2023, at Strong Rock Christian School; for more information on this upcoming event, you can email getrelif@gmail.com or visit www.yournextstepllc.com.
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