Out of Darkness Walk: Taking steps to prevention

BY PAT FARNELLI, Correspondent

More than 200 people turned out for Saturday’s suicide awareness and prevention walk held at Montrose Area High School.

Joanne McCain, whose family has survived the loss of a loved one by
suicide, welcomed participants to the 4th annual Out of the Darkness Walk

She said, “When these walks started more than 10 years ago, only a few people came out. This year, we have nearly a quarter of a million people walking across the country to fight suicide.” McCain walks with her sisters, Tina Cundey and Paula Ross, in honor of her brother, Jeff Cundey, who was known as ‘Corny.’ Jeff took his own life in March of 2009.

“Look around you. Everyone here today wants to make suicide a thing of the past. Everyone here wants there to be help available for those who need it. Together we are creating a culture that’s smart about mental health,” McCain said. “Over the past two years, the number of states with mandatory suicide prevention training for school personnel has more than doubled. This is real and lasting change, and it’s thanks to you.”

There is now a Survivor Outreach Program in Susquehanna County, matching newly bereaved with a trained loss survivor for support and resources.

Award-winning speaker, author and suicide survivor Kevin Hines had to cancel his program on Sept. 1, but he promises to return Nov. 17.

“Today, Sept. 10, we recognize World Suicide Prevention Day. On this date, we pause to reflect on the impact of suicide in our families and communities, and to affirm the importance of prevention. We can honor the lives of those lost to suicide by collectively taking steps toward prevention each and every day.”

In addition to the walk around the track, accompanied by inspirational music, the participants release colored balloons corresponding with the suicide victim’s significance in their lives. The balloons have a
tag attached so that when they are found, the family member can be recognized.

One walker, Bridgette Reed, said she has recently lost several people close to her from suicide. “I personally have had much trouble losing this many people in so short an amount of time,” she said. “It really takes a toll on you.”

Reed noted, “Even if you can convince someone to stay until tomorrow that might not be enough. The more we talk about it, the more it can be prevented. Everyone can talk about suicide. It needs to be spoken.”

One father, Duane Mead, who lost a son to suicide attended alone this year. It will be three years on Halloween since his son, Scott, took his own life. “It didn’t get any easier. It depends on the day. I hope to make a difference, that is why I come here. I just walk on my own.”

Three teen girls were in the front of the procession around the track: Adrianna McCracken, Hailie Pearson, and Elizabeth McCracken, walking in honor of Tyler James Gunn. Wendy Sheridan said she does the walk to honor her son, Tyler. She said that there were no signs anything was wrong, that the night before he was his normal self.

Kristin McCandrew, a team leader for the walk, explained the saying on the back of her team’s t-shirts. ‘Still Carrying On.’ Our motto uses the initials of Steven Carl Oakley, my cousin, in his memory,” she
said. “The semicolon is used when a writer decides not to end a sentence, but chooses to keep on going. That’s why we use it as a symbol of hope.”

The Out of the Darkness program will hold a volleyball tournament Oct. 8 at Broome County Community College to raise funds for suicide awareness and prevention. Funds raised by the walk and tournament will go for national research, local educational programs in schools, and Act 71 mandated teacher training hours.