For the second year in a row, The Greater Mercy Foundation of Wimberley co-hosted and coordinated last week’s Suicide Awareness Walk with the Wimberley Independent School District Wellness Center and Blue Hole Regional Park.
More than two hundred people attended the event which included a three-quarter mile run or walk through the Blue Hole park trail system, a wellness fair and a memorial loop where altars and memorials were placed to remember those lost to suicide. A cork board allowed participants to write prayers and notes to their loved ones.
Community Leader Jen Sabatier, from The Greater Mercy Foundation said that many students, athletes and organizations from WISD, Katherine Ann Porter School, St. Stephen’s Episcopal School and the Blanco River Academy participated in the event. Others who came out were parents, grandparents and families, as well as community organizations, local businesses, and other nonprofits.
When asked why the Suicide Awareness Walk was created, Sabatier said, “We started this project last year in response to the issue of suicide and mental health and wellness. Our community has lost too many students and adults to suicide. We know that talking about suicide and connecting with each other provides not only a layer of prevention, but it is a way to link resources to those who
suffer.”
BY JULIE ALBINI/ALBINI.SMUGMUG.COM Experts on suicide, like The World Health Organization, is all about “Changing the Narrative on Suicide.” Their suicide prevention initiatives have set out to teach and foster open, compassionate conversations about suicide.
“It is about shifting from silence and misunderstanding to openness, empathy, and support — creating environments where people feel able to speak up and seek help,” WHO states. Furthermore, they believe that, “Changing the narrative also means driving systemic change” and they call for suicide prevention and mental health to be a priority in public policy. This includes improving access to care and making sure that those in distress receive the support they need.
They should know. WHO statistics show that more than 720,000 people die from suicide every year and it’s the third leading cause of death among 15 to 29-yearolds. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. The number of suicides, from their latest statistics gathered in 2023, were 49,316. More than half of them were from firearms.
Likewise, the JED Foundation, a nonprofit organization that partners with schools to implement mental health initiatives like suicide prevention training says, “suicide is the second leading cause of death for teens and young adults.” Their research also shows that “9.5 percent of high school students attempted suicide in the past year.”
Statistics from organizations who study suicide the world over confirm that suicide is a tremendous issue among young people. Communities that recognize the importance of changing the narrative of suicide have made it a top priority.
The Greater Mercy Foundation recently launched the MotherTree Project which offers sliding-scale mental health and wellness services to the Wimberley community. They work within a network of practitioners who are well trained to treat suicide and its effects.
After the Suicide Awareness Walk, Sabatier said, “the issue of suicide touches each of us and me personally. Taking care of ourselves and each other is a cultivation of our community about how we are going to show up, be present and care for one another. Issues of depression and anxiety can become isolating. The more we can gather with purpose and presence around these difficult and painful topics, the easier it is to show up for each other and ask for help when we need it.”
All funds raised from last week’s event directly support local mental health and wellness for those in the WISD and the Wimberley community at-large. For Sabatier, “The event was a beautiful experience. I was part of several meaningful connections and conversations throughout the day and witnessed these connections happening around the park. The impact was palpable and I have already received several supportive messages both from those in attendance and from those who were unable to attend.”
For additional information visit The-GreaterMercyFoundation. org.
