This fall, I had the opportunity to represent TWLOHA at three Out of the Darkness Community Walks in Indiana. I’m very proud to say that one of the walks I attended was one I helped organize. This year, I volunteered for the job of Walk Chair for the Evansville Out of the Darkness Community Walk.

I attended two walks last year, and I found that most of the walks were occurring in upstate Indiana. Any Hoosier knows that northern Indiana and southern Indiana are practically two different states.  Being a southern Indiana girl, most of my friends and family live in the southern half of the state. I know many people who have been affected by suicide, and I knew most of them couldn’t make it to the walks up north. So I decided to bring the walk to them.

I’m a sophomore in college, and along with being a full-time student, I’m also the President of my school’s TWLOHA UChapter. Many people thought I was crazy for taking on another project (and trust me, sometimes I think so, too), but I knew this was something I had to at least try. I knew if I didn’t try, then the Evansville OOTD Walk wouldn’t happen. At least if I tried, then there was a chance to bring resources, hope, and support to my own community.

A random meeting on a hot summer day in June gave me the encouragement and assurance I needed. I was walking around my hometown (about 40 miles from the actual OOTD Walk location) posting flyers about the walk, and I went into a local ice cream shop. The place was empty except for the workers and a twenty-something young woman who was on the phone. I was arranging some flyers on the table when I heard her end her phone call and walk over to me. She asked to see a flyer and introduced herself. Her name is Ashly. I told her about the walk and what we hope to accomplish with it. She looked at me with a surprised expression and said, “I think you are a godsend. I lost my brother to suicide almost two years ago, and I really need something like this.” We went on to talk for twenty minutes. She told me about her brother and how it felt to lose him.  We talked about the need for resources for survivors and what we can do to help. She added me on Facebook a few days after we met, and almost every week I saw a new advertisement for a fundraiser or benefit she organized to raise money in honor of her brother. Ashly went on to be the top fundraiser for the Evansville Out of the Darkness Walk.  Seeing her put so much effort into the walk was a constant inspiration and encouragement.

I’ve always been inspired by stories of people who have used their pain to fight for something greater than themselves. It shows what the human spirit is truly capable of accomplishing and how strong we can be, even through the darkest times. These walks not only provide resources and encouragement for survivors, but also give them a positive outlet for their pain. Most of the people who volunteer and donate to this cause are people who have been affected by suicide.  These are people who are fighting to save lives and keeping the memories of their loved ones strong.

As long as these walks exist, we’ll keep walking. Walking for the ones we’ve lost and the ones who are still fighting and surviving. Walking for the survivors. Walking for the hope that one day the stigma of suicide will be silenced.

Comments (6) | Posted in General by Erin Gillingham

This Saturday is the Indianapolis Out of the Darkness Community Walk, which kicks off the walk season for the Indiana Chapter of the AFSP. This is my second year being a part of these walks, and I'm very excited to have the opportunity to share TWLOHA's message of hope and to support another group that is close to my heart.

When I attended my first Out of the Darkness Walk in February 2010 in Orlando (during my TWLOHA internship), I had no idea these events would go on to affect my life in such a powerful way. I've grown up in Indiana, and until last year I never knew how to get involved in my own community. Being a part of the Orlando Walk inspired me to get involved with the Indiana Chapter of the AFSP and bring a message of hope and encouragement to people in my own community. It's also allowed me to see the amazing efforts and hear the stories of my fellow Hoosiers.

I've been blessed to see the effects of these OOTD Walks within my own family. My mom lost her only sister to suicide when I was four, and I have grown up seeing the effects of this loss within our family. I asked her to come to the walk longing for her to find hope and encouragement. During the opening ceremony, a fellow survivor of suicide spoke about her own loss. She said it took years of healing, but she was finally able to acknowledge the loss of her loved one to suicide. My mom saw her courage, and something resonated with her. She called me that night in tears and told me how much the walk meant to her. My mom said it was the first time she had ever heard suicide talked about so openly. For the first time since her sister died, she finally has the courage to share her story. She lost her sister to suicide, and it's time to talk about it.

We talk a lot at TWLOHA  about the importance of stories and the belief in letting others know and love us and knowing and loving them in return. If you have lost a loved one to suicide or struggled with thoughts of suicide yourself, it becomes even more important to let the people who love you walk beside you. I once heard Aaron Moore share at a MOVE conference, "grief shared is grief survived." The Out of the Darkness Walks have really proven to me the truth in these words.

I want to invite you to join us in the conversation and at the OOTD Walk to break the stigma. Although TWLOHA will be attending three walks across Indiana, there are eight walks total in the state and over 200 throughout the country. To find an event near you, go to www.outofthedarkness.org and sign up and even start a team of your own.

These walks are always special. They're about bringing people together. They're about providing hope, encouragement, resources, and support to those who have experienced such a tragic loss. It's about raising money to support the many programs being implemented by the AFSP. We're a group of people, some survivors, others advocates, all coming together with a message: it's okay to talk about suicide.

Thanks for reading.  Hope to see you at an OOTD Walk soon. :)

Erin
Spring 2010 Intern

P.S. This week is National Suicide Prevention Week. Talk about it. Ask your friends how they’re doing. Share stories. Spend time with loved ones. If you’re struggling, you don’t have to struggle alone; ask for help. Let your voice be heard. Together, we can break the stigma.

Comments (6) | Posted in General by Erin Gillingham