Letter to the Editor: Step Up Reach Out for suicide education, prevention

To the Editor:

The Step Up Reach Out committee would like to express its appreciation to its many sponsors and supporters of our annual suicide awareness walk. Funds raised this year are being used for suicide education and prevention with a special focus on the agricultural community, but any group is able to access this free training.

Groups or organizations that would like suicide prevention training at no cost may contact Northeast Iowa Behavioral Health at 563-382-3649 to schedule a training. The training is approximately one hour and is appropriate for ages 13 years and up.

Suicide continues to impact residents of northeast Iowa in a very personal way.  Training community members to recognize warning signs and how to intervene saves lives.

The next Step Up Reach Out Walk will be September 12, 2020 in Decorah at 10 a.m. at 905 Montgomery Street. We have moved the walk to September at the request of walk  participants to hopefully take advantage of beautiful fall weather.

Marcia Oltrogge
Step Up Reach Out Committee