VALDOSTA — Greenleaf Center will host the third annual B1 5K for the Awareness and Prevention of Youth Suicide Sept. 8 at McKey Park.

September is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.

Registration begins at 7 a.m. The 5K will start at 8 a.m. and a one-mile fun run will follow.

Tickets are $25 for the 5K $15 for the fun run. Registration can be completed online at runningintheusa.com or the day of the event at McKey Park.

Those who wish to donate without participating can become a ghost runner by registering and giving $25.

Bottled water will be provided, and there will be drawings for prizes.

Awards will be given to the top runners in each age division: under 12 years old, ages 13-19, ages 20-29, ages 30-39, ages 40-49, ages 50-59, ages 60-69 and age 70 and up.

The fundraiser will assist The Jason Foundation, a national nonprofit that was created after the youngest son of its president died from suicide.

Sponsorships are accepted until the day of the event; however, there will be no logo printing for these sponsors. Checks should be made payable to The Jason Foundation, Inc.

Funds raised will benefit the B1 program, a subset of The Jason Foundation that focuses on suicide education, according to Lance Wilcher, director of business development for Greenleaf.

“What the B1 does is educates people on how to recognize the warning signs (of suicide) … to be able to recognize them and to be prepared is to be able to help that person get some help,” he said.

There have been 22 reported youth suicides in Lowndes County since 2007, and 23 deaths from youth suicide in Georgia so far this year, according to Wilcher.

Some signs include depression, anger/increased irritability, sudden increase/decrease in appetite, sudden changes in appearance and past suicide attempts, he said.

“It’s just trying to educate people on the problem, how to recognize the issues and what people are going through, recognize the signs and be prepared to help somebody out,” Wilcher said.

A stigma attached to suicide conversations still exists though people are doing a better job at removing it, he said.

“Nobody has a problem talking about diabetes; nobody has a problem talking about cancer … for some reason, there’s a negative stigma associated with (youth suicide),” said Wilcher.

According to Wilcher, youth suicide is the second leading cause of death for 10 to 14-year-olds in Georgia and third for those who are 18 to 22-year-olds.

Amanda Usher is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1274.