A group of professionals are working together to bring awareness to mental health and suicide prevention.The group signed on with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to host the Out of the Darkness Warrenton Walk, which will take place Saturday, Sept. 9, at Black Hawk Middle School, 300 Kuhl Ave. in Warrenton. It is open to the community.Online registration closes at noon Friday, Sept. 8. Anyone can register in person at the walk from 8 a.m. until the walk starts at 9 a.m. The walk ends at noon. Donations will be accepted until Dec. 31.The group’s goal is to raise at least $5,000.The founding member is School Resource Officer Kevin Swofford with the Warrenton Police Department. Swofford and his wife Danielle lost a child to suicide. She was 21 and living out of town at the time of her death.Having gone through the tragedy, the Swoffords wanted to help others by raising awareness and creating a culture that sees mental illness not as a stigma, but as a sickness that needs to be treated like any other.As a School Resource officer at Black Hawk Middle School it was natural to start the conversation with students in mind, and where Swofford himself has assisted kids in crisis.“A lot of parents don’t know what’s going on with their kids until we make that phone call,” he said. “They (the kids) don’t want to worry their parents or make them think there’s something mentally wrong with them.”Mental illness is often a precursor for suicide, but not always. Swofford said every kid has different triggers and moods can change rapidly. He has seen kids experience a long, depressed state and kids who suddenly appear upset. He said the reasons could be anything from friends and school to life at home.Swofford said the amazing part is that a lot of kids don’t really understand the concept of suicide, or how to identify and cope with their feelings.“I can’t count how many times I’ve taken elementary school students to the hospital to get an evaluation done. They’re saying they want to die and they don’t even know what they’re talking about. They don’t understand,” he said.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that suicides have risen sharply among young adults and especially teen girls.In Missouri, suicide is the third leading cause of death among youth ages 10 to 24.At school, Swofford said, adults get to know each student well. When they suspect something is going on, they start a conversation. To them, no kid is “being dramatic” or “over emotional.” And no kid needs to toughen up.Anyone facing difficulties will receive support, safety and guidance. Without that, the search is on for anything that will take the emotional pain away.Those things, Swofford said, are likely to be dangerous and self-destructive, such as drug or alcohol abuse or self-mutilation.Swofford said one of the best things parents can do is “put the phones down and actually have a conversation. Get to know your kids. Talk to your kids. Let your kids know you’re a safe avenue to talk to.”Talking is a good place to start for someone of any age who needs help.The CDC reported in 2015 that suicide was the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and the 10th leading cause of death in Missouri. The state is ranked 17th in the nation for the number of suicides each year for all ages.Suicide was the third leading cause of death nationally among ages of 10 and 14, and the second leading cause of death among ages of 15 and 34.Swofford is on the committee with School Resource Officer Jeff Catron, with the Wright City Police Department; Denise Richards, counselor at Black Hawk Middle School; Stacey White, with the Warren County Health Department; and Steve Kohler, with Creekside Place Church.Out of the Darkness Walks help raise awareness and funds for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to invest in research, educational programs, advocate for public policy and support survivors of suicide loss.American Foundation for Suicide Prevention