Newark, MD – April 15, 2024 – In an ongoing commitment to mental health and the well-being of its youth and community, Wicomico and Worcester County officials have partnered to announce the upcoming visit of Matt Runnalls, Australian expert in suicide prevention and mental health advocacy.
Runnalls will begin his visit to Maryland by joining the Wicomico County Health Department at their Color Run Festival – Run for Wellness and Suicide Prevention, on Sunday, April 21, at Kylan Barn in Delmar, MD. He will speak to participants and guests about his mental health journey, surviving suicide attempts and losing friends to suicide.
Host Jessica Taylor of the Wicomico County Health Department believes, “Matt’s compassionate, empathetic nature is helping to change dark to light for many people. Sharing his experiences has the power to break down the barriers of stigma around talking about mental health. His visit will be life changing for some!”
Runnalls has also committed to speaking with youth at Stephen Decatur Middle School in the month of May, imparting valuable insights and strategies to promote mental health awareness and resiliency, in turn, preventing suicide. According to the 21-22 Maryland Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 26.8% of Maryland middle school students report having “...seriously thought about killing themselves.”
Runnalls’ primary message to youth will include learning how to show up for their peers, showing kindness, acceptance and respect to one another. His positive, uplifting message will be an interactive presentation helping students to navigate the continuum of mental wellness from struggling, to surviving, to thriving.
“Mental wellness is a significant concern among our young people, and our school system recognizes the importance of providing resources and support to address this issue,” says Worcester County Public Schools Health Education Coordinator Tamara Mills.
WCPS School Health Coordinator Lauren Williams agrees, “…bringing Runnalls allows us to empower students and staff with the knowledge and tools needed to recognize the signs of mental distress in themselves and others.”
Worcester County Public Schools will also host Matt Runnalls at a professional learning workshop with School Counselors, Social Workers and Educational Assistants.
Also hosting Mr. Runnalls during his visit will be Salisbury University. He will provide his insight into a lived personal experience with grief, mental illness, and homelessness and help those in attendance to redefine mental health with hope and action. He will speak in the Wicomico Room, GSU from 10 AM to 11 AM before the third annual Out of the Darkness Campus Walk on Saturday April 27. This event is free and open to the public. Social workers are also able to receive one free CEU after attending and completing a post-event survey. Click here to register and here to learn more.
Matt Runnalls is widely recognized for his engaging and informative presentations, which combine personal experience with professional expertise to deliver a powerful message of hope and resilience. Through his work in suicide prevention, Matt found a passion and a purpose through speaking, providing keynotes, workshops and connecting with the world around him. He created an Australian company, Mindfull Aus, at the age of 24, devoting his life to advocacy and destigmatizing talking about mental health and the risk of suicide. His visit promises to be a transformative experience for youth, adults and the community.
Funding for this project has been provided by the Suicide Prevention Initiative and MSDE Maryland Leads funding. A valuable funding partner and supporter for this project is the Jesse Klump Memorial Fund.