Plainfield Central Student Plans Suicide Prevention Walk

PLAINFIELD, IL — A Plainfield Central High School student is working to help classmates and neighbors who may be battling suicidal thoughts. Senior Kaden Dolbee has organized a walk next week to raise awareness for suicide prevention.

The Plainfield Suicide Awareness Walk will take place at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, and the Plainfield Central stadium at 24120 W. Fort Beggs St. For Dolbee, the even seeks to remove some of the stigma from suicide and help prevent suicides from happening in his community.

"There is nothing like it around here, so I wanted to start one," Dolbee said in a statement provided by School District 202. Dolbee was tasked with organizing an event around a social cause as part of his role with the National Honors Society.

The event will serve as a fundraiser for Elyssa's Mission, an organization that administers suicide prevent programs in schools. A clinical profressional counselor will also be on hand to speak about ways to support a person with suicidal thoughts. The event is free, and participants are encouraged to wear yellow.

Dolbee is working with National Honors Society advisors Rose Fleming, Karin Walker, social worker Jaclyn Kwiatt and counselor Julie Bortoli. He has enlisted the support of Plainfield Central classmates as well as students from the district's three other high schools, and district staff.

"He can talk about something and get other students excited about it..." Fleming said.

Suicide rates for teens and young adults in America reached its highest recorded levels in 2017, with a dramatic uptick in such incidents since 2010, according to the Los Angeles Times. Events like the suicide awareness walk can help erase the stigma around suicide and show community members battling with suicidal thoughts that they have the support of their neighbors.

"People are kind of ready to say enough is enough and to help each other out,” Bortoli said.