Ridgeview 5k aligns with suicide prevention month
* MEDIA RELEASE*
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michael J. Yates
DATE: August 7, 2025 PHONE: 865-719-7221
Ridgeview 5k aligns with suicide prevention month
Oak Ridge, TN – Ridgeview hosts the 10th Annual Oak Ridge Fall Classic 5k on Saturday, September 6 at 8:30 am on the greenway along Melton Hill Lake Drive. The 5k celebrates physical activity as a key factor to promoting and optimizing good mental health. Participants walk or run along the Melton Hill Greenway and will receive a colorful t-shirt. To register visit Oak Ridge Fall Classic 5k at www.runsignup.com.
September is national suicide prevention awareness month, and Ridgeview is pleased to align their event with this important national campaign as recent reports from the CDC indicate that suicide rates from 2024 have hit all-time high in the U.S. citing close to 49,500 deaths from suicide. Race Director, Michael Yates, underscored the importance of this awareness campaign by saying, “Now, more than ever, we need to extend hope, healing, and recovery to people that are experiencing depression, and Ridgeview is here to offer compassionate support and timely access to care regardless of a person’s ability to pay.” Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN), Oak Ridge NAMI, and PhysioLab will be onsite to share information and resources.
This year, participants will have an opportunity to run/walk in remembrance of someone they lost to suicide by writing a message on the “In Remembrance” banner.
Current sponsors of the 5k include LBMC, The Baldwin Group, Rather & Kittrell, RSI EnTech, Howard Hildreth Insurance Agency, Ben and Helen Redmond, and product sponsors Chick-fil-A Oak Ridge and Food City. All proceeds benefit programming for the uninsured and underinsured in Ridgeview’s nine-country service area.
If you need to talk with someone about feelings of stress, anxiety, depression or other symptoms related to mental health concerns, Ridgeview offers same-day access walk-in clinics hours each weekday. Visit ridgeview.com to learn more. Ridgeview’s Mobile Crisis Team is available 24 hours a day at 800-870-5481.
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Michael Yates is the Director of Development at Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services
Ridgeview is a private, not for profit community mental health center with locations in Anderson, Campbell, Fentress, Morgan, Roane, and Scott counties.
