People share stories, support at Suicide Awareness Walk

"Catharsis. What an amazing word," Mark Cichosz said Thursday before Havre's Fifth Annual Suicide Awareness Walk. "I really like that word, not because it makes me sound smart, not because it's a big word, but because of what it means. Catharsis is any extreme change in emotion that results in renewal and restoration."

Cichosz, the Suicide Awareness Walk keynote speaker and member of the Hill County Suicide Awareness Coalition, was speaking in the presentations before the walk to about 100 people gathered together on the Montana State University-Northern campus Thursday evening for the walk.

Many said suicide is only a major problem in the nation, but huge in north-central Montana.

"This year's theme is 'It's Time,' it's time to ask, it's time to listen, it's time to support," Hill County Suicide Awareness Coalition Chair Amber Spring said. "We do this awareness event each year because suicide affects so many of us in our community."

She added that the coalition strives to bring the topic of suicide into the light, for people who struggle with depression or suicidal thoughts that it is OK to talk about it and to be able to reach out for help. For people who have lost someone to suicide, Spring said, she wants the walk to be one of the places for them to have an opportunity to pay tribute, to remember their loved ones and to heal.

"As a community we continue to support educational programming for community members to learn how they can help those developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis," Spring said. "These programs help the public identify, understand and respond to mental illness."

Spring added that the walk provides a safe place to people who have had an experience with suicide to feel safe to share their experiences and heal.

Many at the event were wearing purple and blue ribbons as well as purple and blue honor beads that symbolize support of the cause or the loss of a relative or friend. Other honor beads were available, such as green to symbolize those who struggle with suicide personally, along with white and orange beads that mean the loss of a child and the loss of a sibling.

The Gardipee family of Box Elder came in remembrance of Jesse James Gardipee, who died in 2014.

Kathy Koop, his aunt, said she has brought her family every year to do the walk and to honor him every year since her nephew had died.

"This event brings awareness to these kids that there are other options," she said.

She added that coming to the walk makes her feel like she is not the only one who has been through this and there other people have gone through this and that the event gives support.

Havre High School Key Club members Emerald Tinsley, Rayna Johnson, Hannah Kinsella and Danni Wirtzberger were at the event to show the club's support for suicide awareness.

"I think this walk helps people in Havre and the surrounding areas come together for the cause and to make sure that they feel comforted," Kinsella said. "I believe this walk is important because it shows people that it's OK that they are going through something and that people support you and you have someone to talk to."

The Key Club also had signs they held during the walk, with a large semicolon, a symbol to show continuation, and saying, "It's Okay To Not Be Okay."

Another sign said both, "Tomorrow needs you" and "Don't Miss Out On Life."

Prior to the walk, people came up and shared their testimonies about how suicide has affected them through the loss of a family member or friend or their own personal struggle.

Prevention Specialist of Hill and Blaine County Susan Brurud said it is important to raise awareness and to take away the stigma, so that people can continue to have the conversation and share their story and not be afraid of how people view them because they have mental issues.

"As a community we can do more than educate ourselves to help our friends, family, co-workers and while this takes effort we all have the ability to do this everyday," Spring said.

"Resilience, the ability to rebound and return stronger and more steadfast than before," Cichosz said.