LAKE HAVASU CITY — This week the You Matter nonprofit of Lake Havasu will be entering their ninth annual Suicide Awareness and Prevention Walk.
Operating under the umbrella of the Havasu Community Health Foundation, the group gives continuous public mindfulness, teamwork, and prevention regarding the source and effects of suicide rates among veterans, adults, and students.
Along with the group’s free programs, their yearly walks have been very instrumental in spreading the word. This year, the You Matter affiliates will be wearing ball caps rather than the usual t-shirts. Three anonymous public speakers from two local nonprofits will be present at the event to share their personal stories involving mental health and suicidalities from Echovets Arizona Band of Brothers and Havasu Community Health Foundation. The third speaker will be from Mohave Community College.
You Matter hosts monthly meetings whether it be via zoom or in person. Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer can do so by calling the Havasu Community Health Foundation at (480) 453-8190.
Former licensed clinical social worker Teri Geir has been a volunteer of the nonprofit for the past nine years and is grateful for the community’s outreach to support their mission. Geir’s future hopes of this year’s walk is to get grade school student involvement, as a volunteer, Geir has really enjoyed her time with the health foundation.
Over the years, the impact of the improved lives and restored hope of those seeking help, will always remain uplifting memories for Geir. “Telesis Preparatory Academy has been really amazing with assisting with this year’s walk. The health foundation is an incredible organization to volunteer for, my favorite is seeing the positive outcomes of people we’ve helped in the past,” Geir said.
If you or someone you know would like to display a vendor table at the walk promoting suicide prevention or mental health assistance, can call Jesenia Pate at 928-453-0716 extension or by emailing pateje@mohave.gov. Adult tickets are now on sale for $28.45 each and include a hat. For ages 13 to 17, tickets are $17.79.
Children twelve years and under can attend free as long as they are accompanied by an adult. Tickets can be bought by visiting Suicide Prevention and Awareness Walk – 9th Annual Tickets, Sat, Sep 13, 2025 at 7:30 AM | Eventbrite. All proceeds will go to publicizing more materials and programs in effort to avoid suicide rates.
This year’s Havasu Prevention walk will be taking place on Saturday September 13. The rally will start at 7:30am and the walk will promptly begin at 8am at Rotary Park in Ramada C at 1400 Smoke Tree Avenue in Lake Havasu City.
You Matter aspires to protect the community with education and assistance for early prevention and being able to recognize indications of self-harm early on. As a reminder from You Matter and the Havasu Community Health Foundation, suicide is not worth it as an everlasting answer to a short-term predicament.
