The Suicide Awareness and Memorial Walk is returning to Chatham this month with additional help from a local education group.
The fifth annual event on January 28 aims to raise awareness about suicide by encouraging conversation about the subject matter.
Organizer Gerald Robert, whose son took his own life in 2014, said suicide shouldn’t be a taboo subject.
“No one talks about it. So that would make it hard for someone ready to commit suicide to say a word, because nobody [else] says a word,” said Robert. “A lot of people are afraid to say something.”
He added that it’s essential to let those who are struggling know that they are not alone and that there are people they can turn to for support.
“You would not believe how many people have been either affected by it or dealt with it directly,” said Robert. “If they see other people out there, making it out in the open… then maybe they’ll feel a little more free to say something when they’re going through that.”
The Suicide Prevention and Education Committee of Chatham-Kent, a group of caring professionals, individuals, and suicide survivors, has also partnered with Robert this year to support the awareness walk and offer resources.
“They’ve been in it a lot longer than I have, and they have resources that I never had access to,” said Robert. “There will be much more help at this event than there ever has been.”
The Suicide Awareness and Memorial Walk will start at the Dude’s Club at 67 Adelaide St. S. in Chatham, beginning at 12:15 p.m.