To the editor:

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in this country. It touches millions of lives — people of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds — but the research is clear: suicide is preventable, and the more people who stand up for suicide prevention and mental health, the more lives we can save. If you’ve lost someone to suicide, or you or someone you know suffers from a mental health condition like depression or anxiety, please join us for the Born to Be Alive – Yellow Ribbon Out of the Darkness Campus Walk to fight suicide 7:30 a.m. Saturday at the Marshall High School theater.

We’re walking to help raise awareness about depression and suicide. We have many friends and people we know who really hide the fact that they are hurting and depressed. We want people to be open and talk about depression and that it is OK to seek help. Talk to a trusted adult, seek medical care for depression and not be scared someone is going to think less of you for admitting depression or anxiety. We want to educate people of resources to help them, so they seek help rather than considering suicide.

Funds raised support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and its bold goal to reduce the annual suicide rate in the United States 20 percent by 2025 through research, education, advocacy, and support. These walks are truly uplifting experiences, and they grow every year. Hope to see you there.

KC Boerboom, MaKenzie Enderson, Lily Her, Claire Martinson

Marshall