September 24, 2022- In partnership with VA Illiana Healthcare System’s Suicide Prevention Team, Richland Community College hosted its second annual Operation Obstacle.
The goal of the timed, two-mile obstacle course is to raise awareness to the growing issue of suicides among veterans and service members, and to connect the Suicide Prevention Team to service members, veterans, and their families who may be experiencing mental health issues.
“Suicide is a big public health concern,” Hannah Jordan, Suicide Prevention Case Manager at VA Illiana. “Veterans are dying by suicide at a disproportionate rate, much higher than the general population.”
The course is composed of 22 obstacles that include monkey bars, kettle bells, hay bales, and more.
“The metaphor is that they are doing the obstacle race today, but veterans and service members have a lot of obstacles in their lives that are sometimes caused by military service, so we just want them to know resources are available,” Jordan said.
The course was open to the public, and over 40 people participated.
Cameron Bagley, a Forsyth resident, finished the course, first and believes this is a cause we need to bring more awareness to.
“I came out today for a good cause to support our service members and veterans, and it is a cause that we don’t hear enough about,” Bagley said.
Travis White, a Decatur resident, who came in second, wants people to make it a priority to support veterans.
“Find ways to support veterans any way you can,” White said. “Whether in your family life, with your friends, or an annual cause.”
For more information on how to support veterans and service members struggling with mental illness, visit va.gov or call the veterans suicide prevention number 988, and press 1.
Below is the Operation Obstacle photo gallery.
