When Ginger Gamble lost her only son to suicide several years ago, she knew she had to do something to help others and at the same time, keep her son’s memory alive.
Gamble became the chairperson for the Crawford County Suicide Prevention Coalition that helps sponsor the annual Into the Light Suicide Prevention Walk along with the Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Board.
“Prevention is so very important. Suicide is a form of mental illness and the person can be treated. My family has been personally touched by suicide and depression. I want others to know that treatment works and people recover. Suicide is not the answer,” Gamble said.
Cindy Wallis of Community Counseling Service heads up the Signs of Suicide program in schools throughout the county.
“We started the program three years ago. It is a school-based curriculum for students in grades sixth through twelfth that includes the evaluation of students by staff from Community Counseling to determine if they are suffering from depression and may be at risk for suicide,” Wallis said. “It also gets the kids talking about things that are bothering them and makes them aware of the signs they may see in a friend who is suffering from depression and needs help.”
Crawford County has a suicide rate of 11.8 per every 100,000 persons which is slightly higher than the national average of 11.5 per every 100,000 persons.
The 10th annual Into the Light Suicide Prevention Walk will be held at 10:30 a.m. On May 14 at Aumiller Park in Bucyrus with registration for the walk beginning at 10 a.m.
All of the proceeds from the walk are used to fund local suicide prevention efforts.
“People can walk in memory of someone lost, in recognition of survival or in support of prevention,” said Gamble.
For more information, call 419-562-7288 or visit https://www.facebook.com/intothelightwalk/?fref=ts. For more information about depression and suicide, visit http://mcadamh.com/major-depression-and-suicide.
