DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. — “Teen lives matter.”
That’s the message Nived Lakshman and many others had during Sunday’s teen suicide prevention Walk by March for Teen Life.
The event brought together teens, families, and mental health advocates for what Lakshman described as an important cause.
“I’ve always described suicide as a split-second decision that causes an immense road of tragedy, so the goal of this event is just to bring awareness to it and make sure that no one else, no other parent, and no other friend have to walk that treacherous road,” Lakshman said.
Those who walked that road shared their experience, hoping their story inspires others to get the help they may need.
“You can have a bad thought, but you can never be defined by your bad thoughts,” Lakshman said.
In a 2023 cross-sectional survey, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 9.5% of teens between 14-and 18-years-old attempted suicide.
It’s a statistic 16-year-old Sriya Chundru wants decreased.
“Not many people are thinking about teens in that type of way, it’s more like they’re just having fun and they’re just with their friends all the time, but education and family life can take a toll on teens the most,” Chundru said.
The march took place on the Walnut Street Bridge from City Island to downtown Harrisburg and was meant to symbolize bridging the gap between clinical support and teen-on-teen support.
“If you’re able to communicate with your friends and your peers around you I think it can just help a lot more,” Chundru said.
“I understand teenage social dynamics because I’m a teenager, so getting involved was something I felt was necessary or something I thought I could do better as a teenager,” Lakshman added.
Lakshman hopes this event was the trampoline to even more.
He is expected to graduate high school and continue his advocacy in college.
If you or someone you know needs help, you can dial 988 for the Suicide and Crisis hotline.