Indian River County residents joined a nationwide effort to support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention at an Out of the Darkness Community Walk last Saturday morning at Riverview Park in Sebastian. It was an inaugural local walk, initiated by event chairwoman Haley Pulver, who hopes to turn it into an annual awareness event and fundraiser.
“I suffer from mental illness and have been in that situation; I’ve found myself in a dark place before,” said Pulver, a radio producer at Idea Garden Marketing. “We have a lot of resources here in Indian River County that people don’t know about.”
Local resources include the Mental Health Association, Treasure Coast Community Health, 211 Helpline, the Indian River Medical Center’s Behavioral Health Center and the University of Florida Health Center for Psychiatry and Addiction.
Additionally, for those devastated family members and friends left behind, who unexpectedly have to cope with a sudden loss, Angie Messner leads a monthly suicide grievers’ support group that meets at Christ by the Sea United Methodist Church.
As walkers registered, they chose from an array of beads to acknowledge their personal connection to the cause – red for the loss of a spouse or partner, gold for a parent, white for a child, orange for a sibling, purple for a relative or friend and silver for first responders and military members, as well as green for those who have struggled personally and blue to support the cause.
“We are people who have a real illness, a real disorder, and most of all we are human beings that need support,” said Pulver, speaking to the group before the walk.
Psychologist Bob Brugnoli, executive director of the Mental Health Association, noted that suicide is currently the 10th leading cause of death in the United States.
“About 40,000 people per year end their lives through suicide, and there are many thousands more family members and friends whose lives are changed forever by these deaths,” said Brugnoli.
He spoke of various signs of mental illness symptoms that are often overlooked: feeling sad or down, worrying obsessively, low energy, having difficulty concentrating, experiencing extreme mood changes, withdrawing from friends and activities, having difficulties sleeping and dealing with day-to-day life, and excessive use of alcohol and drugs.
“We can make a difference in peoples’ lives by knowing about the signs and being vigilant,” he added. “It’s important to be watchful. Help them find a mental health provider, and help them make that first step by making an appointment.”
He spoke about efforts to reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues, stressing the need to change public’s perception of these disorders, and also noted the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.
Donna Barone spoke emotionally about a recent personal connection to suicide – that of her best friend’s only son.
“Unfortunately, we’ll never know the challenges that plagued him,” she said, later making a plea for anyone having suicidal thoughts to reach out for help. “If you’re struggling, you need to know, there is help.”
Speaking briefly about the educational and other services offered by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Jill Harrington, Southeast Florida area director, said, “I always say, you’re kind of a member of a club you don’t really want to be a part of.”
