Hundreds of people gathered at the Boulder Reservoir Sunday for the Rise Against Suicide Emerge 5K, an annual fundraiser that aims to boost funds for mental health resources for area youths.
Rise Against Suicide is a local nonprofit that helps youth at risk of suicide by reducing financial and social barriers. This was the nonprofit’s 15th annual race and by Sunday afternoon it had raised $141,119 of its $140,000 goal.
People experiencing suicidal thoughts who are uninsured or underinsured can qualify for treatment with Rise, said Executive Director Jenna Clinchard, noting that finances should never be a barrier for teens seeking help.
Andi Jason, a board member at Rise, said the nonprofit works to ensure kids have access to mental health counseling in a timely manner.
Clinchard added that, apart from possible insurance struggles, waitlists for therapy can often be weeks long, hindering aid for those who need it sooner.
“When a young person is struggling with suicidal ideation, it feels impossible for them when they’re told they have to wait,” Clinchard said. “(Rise) does not have a waitlist.”
Rise provides more inclusive services, like counseling in other languages and transportation for therapists to meet kids at school, Jason said.
Rise offers free one-on-one and group therapy to people ages 19 years and younger. By breaking down many of the barriers, Jason said she hopes no child feels like suicide is the only option.
Jason lost her son Jesse to suicide in 2010 when he was 16 years old. Her family gathered to support her after her loss, but she knows not everyone is as fortunate to have loved ones nearby. At the run on Sunday, Jason handed out stickers with a picture of Jesse on them to participants, so that runners could help commemorate his life.
Clinchard said that the Emerge 5K is more than just a walk or run — it’s a “big warm hug.” Many participants are people who have lost a family member to suicide or have struggled with it themselves. Clinchard said the event is held to remind people that they are not alone.
At the race, participants had the option to purchase a butterfly sign and scribe the names of loved ones they lost to suicide. The signs decorated the course along the route.
Clinchard said her oldest daughter struggled with suicidal ideation when she was in high school, but she was able to provide her daughter with the resources and therapy to help. But Clinchard said she recognizes that not every family has the privilege or opportunity to help their loved ones.
“I hope people walk away from here knowing they’re not alone,” Clinchard said.
Clinchard said the 5K is a way for people to find community, and to let local youths know there are resources.
Clinchard said her main goal, when she joined Rise in 2019, was to help lower the stigma around having conversations about difficult subjects like suicide and mental health. She said the 5K offers an opportunity to provide a safe, inviting atmosphere for the community to make connections.
“It’s hard when you are struggling with suicidal ideation and it’s hard when you’re struggling with deep mental health issues,” Clinchard said. “But we can still laugh — feelings can coexist — we can be happy and sad at the same time. It’s not all black and white.”
Many participants said that the event was a way for them to connect with others, while letting people know they are not alone in their mental health struggles.
More information about Rise is available at riseagainstsuicide.org.
