Thank you Gabrielle Komorowskii and WYFF4 - We appreciate the new coverage on this important issue.

GREENVILLE, S.C. —

Friday is World Suicide Prevention Day. Walt's Waltz is an Upstate organization working to end the stigma that the founder says surrounds mental health conditions. The nonprofit is holding a virtual raffle through Sunday, Sept. 12, encouraging the community to help them with their mission.

Susan Crooks, founder of Walt's Waltz, said the organization is named in honor of the memory of her son, 35, who died by suicide in 2019. Crooks said he loved music.

"My son died from treatment-resistant anxiety and depression," Crooks said.

Crooks said a human being dies by suicide every 40 seconds. She said her vision is to have the physical and mental health of people viewed through the same lens of compassion and fair-mindedness.

She shared a message for anyone who is struggling:

"There's hope, there's new medications, don't give up. Please stay. People care," Crooks said.

Crooks said more people are talking about mental health conditions because of the pandemic.

"It's kind of forced the issue because it was in the shadows. Every once in a while a celebrity would come out about it, but now we have this window of opportunity. This door is open. And at Walt's Waltz we want people to see that we have to keep this momentum going. We need to really take this seriously," Crooks said.

For more information about Walt's Waltz and the virtual raffle, go here.