Here are some scenes from the morning’s event.
Advertisement
After retiring as Chief Superintendent in 2012 he set up a cross-industry suicide prevention group that joined up local health and police teams to identify vulnerable people and intervene where necessary.
“There are so many people out there struggling with everyday life challenges”, Ashafa said. “One of our goals is to educate the public about prescription drug abuse, but talking about suicide is something we are continuing to support as well, and we want to spread this support”.
Just as it is important to know how to get help, people also need to know the signs indicating someone may need help. Last year’s walk in CT raised approximately $86,000 and had more than 1,200 participants.
She said the best way to overcome struggles is to be open about it, seek help and to talk about it with others to help them as well. “So if I can guide someone else, I want to do that”.
Her son passed while attending Secaucus High School. “Back then, the stigma – ‘You don’t talk about it.’ There wasn’t a lot of help. There’s still growth that needs to happen, but events like this are how we start to make changes”.
It is offered at no cost by the Suicide Prevention Committee of Vernon.
Out of the Darkness Walks connect hundreds of thousands of people to raise awareness and funds that allow the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to invest in new research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss.
Advertisement
Caden East, Zach East, and Austin Giesige lead the Suicide Awareness and Prevention Walk, Saturday morning on South Main Street to the Lima Square. They were walking for their uncle Joel Tegenkamp who died 6/14/2014. According to walk organizer Aixa Peterson, 166 people participated in the local walk.
