March for Hope ends Yellow Ribbon Week

By GUY PRIEL

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Students at New Ulm Middle School, on Friday, learned about suicide prevention as part of Yellow Ribbon Week, which ends today with a downtown March for Hope.

The March for Hope will begin 10 a.m. at the Backerei, 27 S. Minnesota St., and will be held rain or shine, organizer Kristen Hildebrandt said.

The walk is not designed as a fund-raising event. It is a way to raise awareness of suicide, which touches people in small towns as well as large cities, she said.

The walk will head down Minnesota Street to Master Graphics, then along Third North Street to Broadway and along Broadway to Hy-Vee.

The participants will wear ribbons and T-shirts and carry signs and balloons.

Gov. Jesse Ventura declared the week of Sept. 17-23 Suicide Prevention Week in Minnesota.

"Awareness helps people realize they are not alone when they are suffering, and that there are people who care," Hildebrandt said.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death in Minnesota for people aged 10-34.

On Friday, students at the middle school handed out ribbons to students interested in supporting the cause, and provided literature explaining the warning signs of depression, which leads to suicide.

Depression is an illness, it is not a set of feelings that eventually goes away, the students learned. It is associated with several symptoms affecting thoughts, feelings, behavior, physical health, appearance, and all facets of life.

The Yellow Ribbon Program began in Mankato. It is a United Way program sponsored by Redeemer Lutheran Church and the Light for Life Foundation, which provides a 24-hour toll free crisis line at 1-800-856-0606, or nationwide at 1-800-784-2433.