Walking Towards Hope
Featured in the Dayton Daily News
There was a young, bright, engaging 16-year-old who died by suicide. His name was Patrick. I didn’t know him, but I love those who did. His death came as a shock. Patrick’s family and community are devastated. In the aftermath, they are trying to navigate a life without him, while at the same time, bring his memory as they move forward. Although their sorrow is deeply personal, the story of someone so filled with vigor and engagement succumbing to despair is far too frequent. For Patrick, his internal dialogue of doom spoke louder than the potential for life everyone around him believed he embodied. An unquantifiable tragedy. The fact that someone so young could define his life with a brand of futile despondency is especially hard to accept. Patrick was, after all, just getting started. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), teenage suicide is the leading cause of death for those aged 10-24. That’s right, age 10. One in seven high schoolers contemplate suicide. It’s become an epidemic. Too many of our young people are imploding into hopelessness, and the choice to end life leaves all of us collectively weeping. Teenage years should be about sifting through struggles, self-doubt, and insecurities towards a greater path that melds all of those imperfections with promise and potential. For far too many, the byproduct of depression thwart possibility, leaving nothing more than the wake of their ache. In the years since I lost two brothers to suicide, profound sadness lingers. But within that darkness I have learned that through community outreach, hope rises. Specifically regarding the young among us, providing opportunities to share, or feeling like you’re not alone is cathartic and breeds kinship. Kinship means connection, and we are always better off connected.
Fortunately, the AFSP is in the business of providing connection. In addition to research and fundraising, the Out of the Darkness Walk (OOD) provides an uplifting and encouraging opportunity for those who have been touched by suicide to gather, walk in tandem, and rest in a place without stigma or shame. Basking in the light despite vulnerabilities is authentic, therapeutic and healing. Sharing stride with others touched by this unique heartache spreads pain so that the well of grief is shared amidst the tributaries of the greater hearts.
I invite you to join me at the OOD Walk on October 21 at Oakwood High School. Onsight registration begins at 1 pm. If nothing else, the opportunity to take a walk on a Sunday afternoon might offer some fresh air for the soul. Go to AFSP.org to register or just show up. We will be there with open arms. And if you don't live near Oakwood, Ohio, find a walk in your area. A quarter of a million people across hundreds of cities in all 50 states come together each year to bring awareness to all issues related to suicide. I take Patrick’s senseless death with me as I work towards change. Coincidentally, my brother’s name was Patrick. Although I didn’t know young Patrick, his choice to end life was no different than my brother. Yet even across the miles and despite our individual challenges, coming together in the shared space of unwelcome grief is healing. Being part of this mission allows us the opportunity to diffuse pain with the gentle embrace of a larger community. And to all of you who might be tormented by isolation, you are not alone. Especially for our young, walking together can shed light on the deepening seeds of loneliness and isolation. You never know, one moment of radiance can lead to another, offering a lifeline deep within the dark abyss. For information regarding our local Out of the Darkness Walk, go to AFSP.org.