Bluffton community coming together for annual Suicide prevention walk

Bluffton, S.C. (WSAV) The Lowcountry coast is often viewed as a positive place, with happy people and no worries. But even the most beautiful places lose loved ones to suicide. Bluffton hosted a suicide prevention walk to spread awareness of that common stigma and to show local community members that may be struggling – you are not alone in this.

The community gathered at oyster factory park for the annual prevention walk, honoring and advocating for loved ones lost in the battle with suicide. John Tjaarda, director of the South Carolina chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention says, the goal of the walk is to continue to spread awareness while also getting talks around the subject more common. "The more we talk about suicide and suicide prevention, the more we break that negative stigma that's been associated with suicide and mental health and the more that we make it okay for somebody who might be struggling to reach out and ask for help," says Tjaarda.

Co-chair organizer for the walk, Mary Doyle, says suicide is happening way more often than its actually talked about. "It's a very diverse community. Suicide isn't limited to any one person. Gender, race, sexual orientation."

After losing her daughter to suicide three years ago, she is now organizing events, like the walk, to educate others on the warning signs, and helping loved ones look forward through hope. "As hard as it is to talk about hope when you're a suicide loss survivor...when you bring these people all together and you look around and they realize that they're not alone, there's hope in that," says Doyle.

Mom and son, Becky and Mike Christensen, found their hope through keeping awareness alive locally after losing, her son and his brother, Kyle, to suicide. They now are co-chairs alongside Doyle – hoping to grow the walk event larger ever year. Mike Christensen says, "Even if you reach one person, the goal is to reach lots. But if you reach one, you're at least essentially saving someone's life. So that's why it's important to keep doing this and building it."

If you or someone you know is in a crisis, dial 988 – or text TALK to 741-741.