Awareness of suicide and comfort to families and friends who have experienced the loss of a loved one from suicide were the themes of the Out of the Darkness Community Walk to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
The goal of this walk is to raise awareness to the public about suicide being a health issue that can be prevented.
Walks take place in over 250 communities across the nation.
The event held at De Anza College Sunday Oct. 28, was the first walk to take place in the South Bay.
More than100 people met at 8 a.m. at De Anza Parking Lot A.
Tables lined up offered different types of services for the walkers, including drinks, snacks and even prizes for a raffle entry.
Representatives from different organizations in the Bay Area that raise awareness and offer education about suicide occupied a section of tables.
Kathy Forward, director of Outreach and Education for the Santa Clara branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, said she thinks highly of Out of the Darkness.
“It’s really important to raise public awareness,” she said.
When asked about those who have thoughts of suicide Forward replied, “You’re not alone. If you get the education, the support and the treatment you can live a good life.”
Dr. Mark Giudici from Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital System: Suicide and Crisis Service, said Out of the Darkness was “a great way to raise awareness for something that’s a big issue in our county.”
The walk also offered emotional support for walkers who had lost dear ones to suicide.
Necklaces were provided for the walkers to wear; each color representing loved ones who committed suicide.
There was a mural of a bare tree, where walkers wrote down their thoughts on paper leaves to people who they lost to suicide or words of hope to people who think of suicide.
Walker Cathy Ridenour, whose nephew committed suicide, said she was “struck” by all of the resources for support provided for the walkers.
“I think it’s fabulous… I think they did a very thorough job,” said Ridenour.
Caroline Bracco, a walker who said she struggles with ongoing depression, was excited that the walk put the act of having thoughts of suicide in the public eye. Bracco said she believes most mental health illnesses are downplayed or ignored.
Out of the Darkness offered peace to walkers who were touched by suicide, and education to walkers who do not know much about the illness. Yet the message of hope to those who think of committing suicide was summed up nicely in the words of Bracco.
“Be patient,” she said. “It may get a little worse but it will get better too. Even though the light looks really, really dim, it’s worth it when you get there.”
(Anori Grimes/LA VOZ WEEKLY)
(Anori Grimes/LA VOZ WEEKLY)
(Anori Grimes/LA VOZ WEEKLY)
(Anori Grimes/LA VOZ WEEKLY)
