Each year, approximately 42,000 people die by suicide. It is the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S. and for every one suicide, there are 25 attempts, according to AFSP.org.
On Sunday, Sept. 25, the Out of the Darkness Suicide Walk was held in Hamden. Hundreds of suicide survivors, parents who have lost their children, friends, daughters or sons and supporters alike joined together in raising money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) while walking three miles on the Farmington Canal Trail.
The Out of the Darkness Suicide Walk is a nationally recognized event that is put on with the goal of raising money that will help support efforts for suicide prevention.
Nationally, the money raised through this walk funds grants for research for developing evidence based practices for suicide prevention.
Locally, the AFSP chapter putting on the event in Hamden gets to keep half the money that was raised at the walk. It is used to sponsor trainings for community members to learn gatekeeping skills to recognize signs of suicide and help intervene.
Quinnipiac’s Student Veteran Organization (SVO) has been involved with the suicide walk through Professor Emily McCave, an associate professor of social work at QU. McCave serves as the co-chair of the suicide walk in Hamden and is also the president for the Southern Connecticut chapter of AFSP.
Justin LePage, who was the vice president of SVO three years ago, got the group involved with the walk.
“He had internal issues with himself, so he reached out to this suicide awareness walk,” SVO President Christopher Buloc said. “Last year, we made a such a big impression on the walk that they wanted us to be in the opening ceremonies for the walk this year.”
At the start of the event, participants were asked to collect different colored beads.
“They have different colored beads depending on what kind of relationship you have with suicide, whether it’s a loved one, family member, military veteran or if you deal personally with depression,” Jakob Loren, treasurer of SVO, said.
Two members of SVO stood on the stage to represent the silver beads, a color that stood for losing a first responder or someone in the military to suicide.
The green beads represented personal struggle.
“I had internal struggles not only with myself but with my brothers in my platoons who either had suicidal thoughts or have killed themselves, so I have a personal relationship and interest in this suicide walk,” Bolduc said. “I just think it’s important that the whole community should be more aware of suicide because it’s something that’s preventable.”
For McCave, her connection to the cause comes from a loss very close to home. She lost her mother to suicide when she was only 3 years old.
“I didn’t grow up with being able to have the support that I needed. We didn’t have a funeral for my mom. I think that’s a really stark example of how that taboo can really impact families,” McCave said. “I didn’t know her middle name or her birthday until I was in my 20s because it just wasn’t talked about.”
McCave honors her mother through the work that she does as a social work professor and also with AFSP and the Out of the Darkness walk.
“My mom died in a parking garage in a shopping area and I think about if I was in a restaurant and someone was choking, I would know what to do. Someone must have been there and so if they had seen her, I wish someone could have intervened,” McCave said. “That’s why I do this because I believe that AFSP is teaching people how to intervene. When you see someone who’s distressed, you don’t just walk away. You don’t just ignore it.”
McCave said what people do not realize is that we lose just as many people to suicide as we do to breast cancer. She also said mental illnesses should be treated like any physical disease.
“Breast cancer has so much more visibility in our communities, everything from cereal boxes to commercials. No one’s feeling ashamed to say, ‘I have breast cancer. I’ve survived breast cancer,’” McCave said. “When someone goes and gets chemo and come out of the hospital, people are there waiting for them with casseroles. When people go into hospitals with inpatient needs because of an attempt, where are the casseroles when they come out? Where’s the support?”
McCave wants people to understand that suicide does not come from a place of selfishness.
“We don’t use the word ‘committed.’ It’s not a selfish act,” McCave said. “We’re talking about this as a consequence of desperation.”
Barbara Pomeroy was present at the walk on Sunday. She was a part of “Team Christian,” a group of friends and family of an 18-year-old boy from Cheshire who they lost to suicide. Barbara’s daughter is married to Christian’s father.
“He was such a good kid,” Pomeroy said. “He never really seemed to get the time in his life, not only to shine, but to find out who he actually was.”
Pomeroy said Christian just finished school and was ready to start a new job. Unfortunately, on the day he was to start his job, he died by suicide.
She believes the help that organizations like AFSP is providing is completely worth it.
“If there are people and organizations that want to help in any way then God bless them all. That’s all I can say,” Pomeroy said. “We’re here to help each other out. Not to pass judgment.”
