Out of the Darkness Walk raises awareness and $1,115 for suicide prevention

photo courtesy of Megan Linski

On Saturday, over 60 walkers met in Carr Park, some with matching T-shirts, some with their whole families. They walked from Carr Park, down Main Street to Wolverine Street and back. They were participating in the 2nd Annual Out of Darkness Manchester High School CampusWalk and raised $1,115 for the American Society for Suicide Prevention.

Megan Linski, the organizer of the event explained that the event has another purpose as well, "The walk raises money for suicide prevention and offers an opportunity for those who have lost a loved one personally to connect with other suicide loss survivors, as well as gives support for those currently struggling with mental illness."

Suicide statistics in the U.S. are daunting, but Linski has a very personal reason for organizing the walk. She stated, "I graduated Manchester High School in 2011. My best friend Krisen Lison was a graduate of that class. She took her own life in 2013 when she was 20 years old. After her death I ceased to be the same person. I had to grow up very quickly and deal with the reality that someone I loved very dearly, a 20 year old girl who should've just been starting her life, believed that life wasn't worth living and death was the better option. Since then I've known so many kids who've taken their own life. Raising money for AFSP is the only way I feel like I have any power over suicide. It's like fighting back against what was taken from me. At the same time I feel a need to connect with other survivors because this is something you can't go through alone. It'll destroy you from the inside out."

The money raised for suicide prevention will be used on multiple fronts. Some money will fund research to learn what causes suicide. Some research projects will focus on better treatments for mental illness to prevent suicide on a long-term basis. Other donations will stay local to fund suicide loss survivor groups and other forms of grief support pertaining to loss of suicide.

Linski had help organizing the walk from a couple of Manchester High School student groups including the Manchester Key Club and Students Leading Students, as well as SRSLY Manchester. Pollys Country Market and Meijer were sponsors of the event. Wendy Arnston and Lindsay Hannah helped coordinate the event.

"There's such a stigma against suicide." Linski stated, "I've gotten so many remarks that suicide is selfish, or questions about how my loved one took her life. What people don't realize is statements and questions like this aren't okay. Suicide is a consequence of mental illness. It's not a character flaw." She continued, "The farther and farther you fall into depression, the lesser of a choice suicide becomes."

For more information about how you can help, visit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention HERE.

photo courtesy of Megan Linski

photo courtesy of Megan Linski

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.