Out of the Darkness Walk helps those affected by suicide

in Event 459 views

WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) – These beads represent a lost friend, a spouse, or a parent. Participants wore these beads as they walked through Thompson Park on Sunday for the annual Out of the Darkness Walk.

Jessica Countryman is wearing her beads for her boyfriend who died by suicide earlier this year. She says she came for the support.

“Just being around people that have been effected by it,” said Countryman.

She says she wasn’t planning on attending, but her friend convinced her to go.

“This is a great thing for us to do all together,” said Kristin Lamanteer.

About 100 people participated in the walk. An event to raise awareness for suicide prevention and to bring people together to support each other.

“We need community and connection for healing. We need community and connection to know that there’s hope out there and that it gets better,” said Karen Heisig, Associate Area Director of the Greater Central New York Chapter of the American Association for Suicide Prevention.

Heisig knows how difficult it is to lose someone to suicide. Her husband, a war veteran, died by suicide in 2006. These walks helped her during hard times.

Continue Reading on WWNYTV
Go to Top