One Nation, Under God

Suicide Prevention Walk

Phillips County residents cap Suicide Prevention Month by remembering those who have passed

The blustery weather didn't slow the second annual Phillips County Suicide Prevention Walk as the number of participants nearly tripled last year's numbers and another $1,696 was raised for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Montana Chapter.

Early Sunday morning, the Suicide Awareness Walk Committee announced that the beginning of the event would be moved to Malta High School instead of Veteran's Memorial Park because of the weather, which flirted with snow flurries all day long. At the school, several tables were set up including a Memorial Crane display hosting 40 origami cranes with the names of loved ones lost to suicide written on them. Another table hosted a Memorial Wall where people left written messages to lost loved ones. A table featuring Rocks of Hope - hand painted rocks donning positive messages - was also on display and participants in the walk were encouraged to take rocks and set them along the parade route.

Gina Lamb, one of several people who helped organize the event, started the ceremony by telling the people in attendance that she has lost two loved ones to suicide and said it is important to bring awareness to mental illness and suicide.

"We need to stop shoving these issues under the rug and get people the help they need," Lamb said.

Last year's walk, the first in Phillips County, raised $1,547, had 50 people register, and 25 volunteers. The walk last Sunday saw 133 people registered, 29 volunteers and, unofficially, raised nearly $1,700.

"We are still accepting donations and they may be dropped off to Jenny Tollefson at the Phillips County Health Department," Lamb told the PCN on Monday.

Janine Tuss read the essay she wrote for the Malta VFW Auxiliary Essay and Art Contest (the results from that contest will be published in the PCN as soon as they are made available and many of the essays written by Dodson School students can be read in this week's paper.) Tuss said that her grandfather committed suicide when she was four-years-old. She said that she has now lived longer than her grandfather and she has but one memory of the man.

"I hold on to that fondly," she said.

Tuss said that she has never been angry with her grandfather for taking his own life but understands the anger others feel when a family member takes their own life.

"My biggest thought is 'what if'," she said. "What if you were here? Would you have been at my functions growing up? Would you be there when I got married? Would you do something silly at a holiday gathering? The list goes on and on ... what if someone was there for you? Would you have chosen your fate differently? Would you have reached out to a friend? What did you need from someone else? What would I say or do to make it right in your eyes to change your decisions? You weren't bad, you were a good person in a bad spot."

Those at the walk included members of the Malta ReAct group, the MHS Builders Club, Malta Troop #1429 Boy Scouts, members of the Malta Mustang Football team, and the M-ette Volleyball team.

Pastor Kent Gordon thanked everyone for showing up for the day and asked, before he gave the opening prayer, that everyone turn to the person standing next to them and give them a hug. Everyone obliged.

"I'm here to tell you that we can change society, one person at a time," Pastor Gordon said. "What makes God glad? What makes God happy is when people do something nice for someone else. You people today are making God happy because you are doing something for somebody else."

The day concluded at the Malta VFW for refreshments and fellowship.

 

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