NORTHAMPTON CO., Pa. – Don’t be surprised if you start seeing purple ducks all over Northampton County.

While they look cute, the purpose of this flock is very serious.

“Suicide Prevention Month is a really big month to me in this year, and I think it’s really important that we start to break down the stigma that surrounds mental health,” said Connor Daley, a senior at Nazareth High School.

Daley and Jessica Mooney are members of a group called Aevidum.

“It’s a Latin word, and it means, ‘I’ve got your back,’” said Mooney, a senior at Freedom High School.

Avedum offers support and resources for those struggling with mental health.

Mary Pritchard is the director of outreach.

“I support 300 clubs throughout Pennsylvania, but Avidam started in one small school in Lancaster County, PA, after the loss of a student there to suicide 24 years ago,” said Pritchard.

Pritchard says the grassroots organization empowers students to talk to others about mental health issues and suicide.

Something both Daley and Mooney say they have done many times since becoming members.

Daley joined after dealing with depression following COVID.

Mooney became a member after the loss of her father to suicide. She says when she talks to someone who is struggling, she thinks about her father and dedicates her efforts to his memory.

During Suicide Prevention Month, Daley and Mooney, along with the other members of Aevidum, are helping the Northampton County Suicide Prevention Task Force get the word out.

“All of us need to come together to do something, to reduce stigma, to save lives, to get folks help and resources that they need,” said Sue Wandalowski, Northampton County Director of Human Services.

During a news conference focused on National Suicide Prevention Month, people who have dealt with the pain of losing a loved one shared their story.

Jim Presto is a member of the task force and an Aevidum board member.

“In 2014, I lost my 19-year-old son to suicide,” said Presto.

Presto says his son suffered with depression and anxiety, but did not share his struggle.

After his son’s death, Presto became of the task force loss team because he remembers the confusion that family members feel following the suicide of a loved one.

“I had to work through my grief. And from a loss perspective, it would have been nice, you know, understanding what to do, how to do it, who to lean on? Is there anybody I can lean on that would understand the pain?” said Presto.

Northampton County Executive Tara Zrinski quoted the dark statistics of suicide.

The Centers for Disease Control says in 2024, nearly 49,000 people died by suicide.

“Preventing it requires all of us,” said Zrinski. “Whether you’re a parent checking in with your teens, teachers noticing changes in behavior, friends who say, ‘I’ve got your back,’ or our leaders who fund the services that keep people alive want to keep doing so. It requires us to talk openly about mental health, to treat help seeking as strength, as courage, and to remember that hope is not a slogan. It is a mindful practice that we build together as a community.”

For the month of September, the task force is providing information about resources families need, one duck at a time.

“The little ducks, they are meant to go all over Northampton County, and you know, kind of hidden, but mainly in plain sight,” said Mooney.

County officials say 1,000 ducks will be distributed.

“The packets have these little cards in them with suicide prevention information,” said Daley.

The task force says the ducks serve as a reminder that help is always available.

“And if they find them, you take a picture and post it online,” said Mooney.

And by sharing the #HopeStartsHere, you can help the little ducks spread the lifesaving message.

If you or someone you know is in crisis or just needs to talk, you can call or text 988.