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Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services’ 25th Annual “Alive Together: Uniting to Prevent Suicide” Walk and Community Event Set for Oct. 1 at Exposition Park
Didi Hirsch, a National Leader in Suicide Prevention, to Hold Community-Building Event Dedicated to Preventing Suicide and Honoring the 2,160 People Lost Globally to Suicide Each Day
CULVER CITY, Calif. – Sept. 18, 2023 – Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, home of the nation’s first Suicide Prevention Center and a leading provider of mental health and crisis care, will host its annual “Alive Together: Uniting to Prevent Suicide,” a community walk benefiting the Suicide Prevention Center. Now in its 25th year, the event will take place on Sunday, Oct. 1 from 8 to11 a.m. on the South Lawn of Exposition Park in downtown Los Angeles.
Alive Together is an annual community-building and fundraising event dedicated to preventing suicide, reminding survivors that they are not alone and honoring the memory of those lost by walking 2,160 steps to remember the approximately 2,160 lives lost to suicide globally each day. This year’s Alive Together will be emceed by actress Sarah Gilman and fitness expert Eric Bigger and include a robust program that includes performers X. ARI and DJButterbaby and a panel discussion with experts and individuals impacted by suicide. Alive Together will also include a resource fair, family-friendly activities, food and refreshments, games for all ages and an opportunity to promote dialogue, reduce stigma and spotlight the mental health and crisis care prevention and support services provided by Didi Hirsch.
“Hosting Alive Together is one of the critical ways Didi Hirsch builds community, promotes suicide prevention and supports survivors of suicide attempts and loss,” said Lyn Morris, LMFT and CEO of Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services. “Gathering with people who understand the impacts of suicide can be a powerful part of the healing journey because we are always ‘Stronger Together’. We are dedicated to expanding suicide prevention and support services through events like this and meeting the needs of our diverse community.”
Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center provides individual, family and group counseling for people struggling with depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, attempts or losses in person in Los Angeles and Orange Counties and via telehealth across California. In 2022, the Suicide Prevention Center counseled more than 166,000 people seeking help through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and support groups. Didi Hirsch has more than 500 staff and volunteers working 24/7 to meet the increased demand since the launch of 988 in July 2022. Since then, there has been a substantial increase in people reaching out for support, resulting in a 22 percent increase in calls, chats and texts answered through the Suicide Prevention Center.
For more information, or to register or donate, visit the Alive Together website.
Alive Together is made possible in part through the generosity of our sponsors, including our presenting sponsor Fletcher Family Foundation.
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About Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services
Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Southern California, has been a national leader in mental health, crisis care and substance use services for more than 80 years. As a pioneer in suicide prevention and crisis care for all ages, Didi Hirsch is home to the nation’s first and largest Suicide Prevention Center, leads the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline across California and is one of several providers offering 24/7 support in Spanish, operates the national Teen Line, is one of several operators for the national Disaster Distress Helpline and partners with the Los Angeles Police Department to divert mental health crisis calls from 911. The Suicide Prevention Center serves as a model of care internationally and provides outpatient therapy and crisis counseling, support groups for people living with depression and/or anxiety, survivors of suicide loss and suicide attempts and suicide prevention training for the community. Learn more at www.didihirsch.org.
