ZELIENOPLE — More than 42,000 people die of suicide each year in the United States, making it the 10th leading cause of death and leaving behind devastated family and friends.

To reduce the number of suicides in the area, St. Peter’s Reformed Church provides a safe haven for those who have experienced or are considering suicide with monthly support group meetings.

Since 2014, the church has had meetings from 7 to 8:30 p.m. the third Wednesday of each month.

“It is an open-ended group for anybody who feels the need to just talk,” said Pastor James Bertoti. “There is such a stigma that is tied to suicide that people for whatever reason can’t openly talk about it. We’re trying to break down that barrier.”

Bertoti, one of the group’s facilitators, is a second-day survivor. He attempted suicide when he was 18.

“I lived to see a second day,” he said.

People who attend the meetings are people who have lost loved ones from suicide.

“We’ve had different people come and go,” said fellow facilitator Colleen Sybert. “We have a couple of members who have come since the beginning. For some folks like that, it’s been helpful for them.”

The support group, part of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, has two to six attendees each month.

The group also sponsors the annual Out of the Darkness where survivors come together. Money raised from the walk goes toward educating people about suicide prevention.

The date for this year’s walk has not been set.

Bertoti said the support group is trying to work with schools to educate students with a prevention series, “More Than Sad.”

“We’re trying to go into schools so that they can let kids know that there are alternatives out there not to go down this path,” he said.

He said the group has not only had survivors attend meetings, but also those with the intention of committing suicide.

“We just want to let people know that we’re here,” Bertoti continued. “Don’t suffer in silence.”

For information on the support group or the walk, visit the church’s website at www.stpzelie.org or the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s website at afsp.org.