A pathway leading to a pavilion at Willow Bay at Onondaga Lake was covered in vibrant colored chalk Monday with inspirational messages aimed at lifting the beleaguered soul.
It’s part of the annual “Chalk the Walk” initiative by The Onondaga County Suicide Prevention Coalition.
East Syracuse-Minoa High School junior Olivia Ferrara is also a member of her campus support group Sources of Strength.
“I definitely feel like when you’re walking around to relax, debrief, and I feel like just walking and seeing these like motivational messages or drawings, like 'there will be a better tomorrow,' and 'there will be a brighter day,'" she said.
Ferrara says her group is trained to identify and help peers get help when slipping into deep depression.
Mark Vinciquerra with the county’s suicide prevention program says suicide ideation continues to climb four years after Covid related depression appeared.
“We're not out of that yet. We're still dealing with the aftermath," he said. "Life in general is becoming more unpredictable, more unstable in the world, we're seeing higher rates of mental health-related issues and concerns.”
During Suicide Prevention Month, volunteers will continue to chalk-the-walk with words of hope at satellite sites across Onondaga County.
New York and County leaders urge anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts now or in the future to reach out for support at 988.
