For families across Hays County, a conversation, a resource or simply knowing where to turn can matter more than many people realize.

That idea is at the heart of the Hays County Health Department’s second annual Suicide Awareness Walk, Together for Tomorrow, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26, at Plaza Park in San Marcos. The free community event will bring residents together to remember lives lost to suicide, support survivors and families, and connect people with mental health and suicide prevention resources available close to home.

The event comes during a continuing national effort to address suicide as a major public health concern. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 48,824 people died by suicide in the United States in 2024, making suicide the nation’s 10th leading cause of death. The CDC also estimates that 14.3 million U.S. adults seriously considered suicide that year, 4.6 million made a suicide plan and 2.2 million attempted suicide.

Those numbers give broader context to what local organizers hope will feel like a very personal morning in San Marcos.

Together for Tomorrow Walk Set for Sept. 26 in San Marcos

The Hays County Suicide Awareness Walk will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, at Plaza Park, 206 N. CM Allen Parkway in San Marcos.

Participants will gather at the park’s stage before beginning a one-mile walk honoring people who have died by suicide, suicide loss survivors and others whose lives have been affected by suicide. The event is free and open to the public.

Dr. Isabella Vigil, behavioral health coordinator for the Hays County Health Department, said prevention is built through relationships and access to help long before an emergency develops.

“Suicide prevention starts long before a moment of crisis. It starts with how we show up for one another, how we talk about mental health, and how easy we make it for someone to find support when they need it,” Vigil said. “This walk is about bringing our community together to remind people that asking for help is okay, support is here, and no one should have to navigate their mental health alone.”

That focus on connection reflects established suicide prevention research. The CDC identifies social connection, support from family and community, and access to health care as factors that can help reduce suicide risk. Prevention efforts can include strengthening relationships, improving access to care and helping people recognize when someone may need additional support.

Mental Health Resources Will Be Available at the Walk

For residents looking for more than a symbolic show of support, the event will also include a mental health resource fair featuring more than 10 organizations.

Participating groups will include behavioral health providers, recovery services, suicide prevention organizations, Texas State University student organizations and community advocacy groups serving Hays County and the surrounding region.

That makes the walk an opportunity for residents to learn what help is available before they or someone close to them reaches a crisis point.

Community member Kassandra Salinas said suicide prevention does not belong only to professionals or institutions.

“Suicide prevention is something we all have a role in. It can be a conversation with a friend, a moment of support for a neighbor, or simply being willing to show up when someone needs us,” Salinas said. “The annual Suicide Awareness Walk brings our community together to remind one another that no one should have to navigate difficult moments alone. When we stand together, we create a stronger network of hope, connection and support.”

Why Suicide Awareness Matters

Although the national age-adjusted suicide death rate declined from 14.1 deaths per 100,000 people in 2023 to 13.7 in 2024, suicide remained among the leading causes of death in the United States. CDC data also show that suicide affects people across age groups and communities, while rates and risks are not distributed equally.

For communities such as San Marcos, Kyle, Buda, Wimberley, Dripping Springs and other parts of Hays County, prevention efforts can begin with something as basic as making mental health conversations easier to have.

That is part of what Hays County organizers are trying to accomplish through Together for Tomorrow. The goal is not only to recognize the seriousness of suicide, but also to make residents more aware of the people and organizations prepared to help.

Free T-Shirts, Ice Cream and Community Support

The first 50 attendees at the Suicide Awareness Walk will receive a free T-shirt featuring artwork created by a local community member.

Baskin-Robbins San Marcos will provide free scoops of ice cream while supplies last, and water and light snacks will also be available.

The gathering is one of several behavioral health initiatives led by the Hays County Health Department, which serves as the local public health authority and provides services ranging from health education and immunizations to behavioral health programming, tuberculosis care and sexually transmitted infection prevention and treatment.

The involvement of local organizations, businesses and community members also gives the walk a distinctly local purpose. For some attendees, it may be a place to remember someone. For others, it may be the first time they learn about a nearby counseling service, recovery program or support organization.

For still others, simply seeing neighbors gather openly around mental health may make a difficult subject feel a little easier to talk about.

What Hays County Residents Need to Know

The 2nd Annual Hays County Suicide Awareness Walk, Together for Tomorrow, will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Sept. 26 at Plaza Park, 206 N. CM Allen Parkway in San Marcos. The event is free, open to the public and will include the one-mile awareness walk and a community mental health resource fair.

Residents seeking information about local public health and behavioral health programs can visit the Hays County Health Department website.

Anyone experiencing emotional distress or a mental health crisis can also call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and provides free, confidential support from trained crisis counselors. People do not have to be suicidal to contact 988.

For Hays County, the Sept. 26 walk offers both remembrance and something practical: a chance for neighbors to learn where help exists, make connections and reinforce the idea that mental health support is part of community health.

Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for more Hays County health, community and San Marcos event updates.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.

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