I’ve been thinking a lot about what to do with the things I have learned since working with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. I’ve learned that suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. and that crisis lines are severely underfunded in every single state (although Arkansas is lucky because the Department of Health will take over the crisis line funding in October, covering it fully!). I’ve learned that Arkansas is ranked 9th in the nation for highest suicide rate in 2019. I’ve learned that Senator John Boozman and Congressman Rick Crawford are huge advocates for suicide prevention and that advocacy is an action, not just talk. As TWLOHA says, people need other people… so with that said, I want to tell you about what we are doing from home. In September, there is an Out of the Darkness walk in Northwest Arkansas. These walks work to bring people with lived experience (such as an attempt or personal struggle), loss, and close-to-home struggles together to show that suicide is preventable and there is a voice for those who feel voiceless. There is strength in numbers. During the Rally to Prevent Suicide, I was moved by the number of parents with signs that said, “____, I’ll be your voice now”, signifying the loss of a loved one and the pure determination to be sure that the people struggling around them know that they have allies. This is one of AFSP’s main initiatives, but I haven’t attended one. When I was growing up, my youth group tried to walk with the Little Rock event but we were unable to for various. But we can’t keep making excuses to keep from acting. We have to move to make change.
So the fun part... I’m starting a team for the Out of the Darkness walk! This means I will be walking in the mile and a half course (slowly, rest assured) on September 8 in Bentonville to show support for suicide prevention and those, like myself, who struggle. By walking, we are showing that there are people around your community that understand, listen, and advocate for measures and initiatives that fight the suicide and mental health stigma. This is one action that can show someone around you that it’s okay to struggle and by walking, you can show that there is someone willing to listen close to home. This is only one step for how we fight to prevent suicide. This is our putting-our-foot-down moment where we say, “We are here. We are listening. We are fighting to save lives.” So I ask that if you have time and you want to show support, please register to walk with us or donate by clicking the buttons below. This could make the difference in someone thinking they are on an island in a sea of 30,000 students and reaching out to you because they saw that you walked to support those struggling. This is how we continue the work I’ve done in D.C.. This is how we prevent suicide at home. - The Cynic
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AuthorGabrielle Willingham is a young Arkansan woman who sees the importance of simultaneous cynicism and optimism. Gabrielle is currently working on a MA in Communication with a focus in gender studies and political science. Archives
January 2021
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