It is incredibly sad to see any life end prematurely, and all too often we see people choosing suicide as they think that it is their only option, be it a teenagers, parents, veterans or senior citizens.  In the hopes of helping improve suicide prevention, the Second Annual “Be Alive & Thrive” event was held on Saturday at the Exton Square Mall.

This “out of the box” community event puts the focus on mind and body wellness in order to increase awareness about mental health and suicide prevention. It was organized as a part of the annual calendar of outreach events dedicated to benefitting the community as a whole.

The event was organized through cooperation between the PREIT managed Exton Square Mall and the Chester County Suicide Prevention Task Force and their partners, including Main Line Health. The full day event at the Exton Square Mall offered a plethora of helpful activities which, among others, offered information about suicide prevention, methods to manage stress, as well as comfort and assistance for survivors.

During the day, nationally acclaimed QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention training was delivered by certified instructors during two hour and a half long sessions, while many people responded to an invitation and joined the Community Conversation about Mental Health during the event. One of the partners of the event, Main Line Health Center, also provided health screenings and nutrition information at their Exton Mall location.

A ceremony in remembrance of those lost to suicide and mental health conditions was held at the center stage in the afternoon.

Some of the other features of the event included music and dance performances by local artists, creative demonstrations such as energetic games and fun activities, as well as art projects and a selfie station. “Be Alive and Thrive” finished off with the Jake Kelleher Liv-Live concert at the end of the day.

Here’s the video from last year’s Be Alive and Thrive event inside the Exton Square Mall: