Locals from across the region gathered on Saturday to raise awareness for suicide prevention in Cobden.
COBDEN, Ill. (WSIL) -- Locals from across the region gathered on Saturday to raise awareness for suicide prevention in Cobden. This event was the first annual Suicide Prevention & Awareness Walk held at the city park on September 14.
Hundreds took part in the event and walked to honor loved ones lost to suicide, along with spreading the message about being aware for those needing help battling suicidal tendencies.
Sherri Lukes is a member of Cobden's Women's Club and the organizer of the event. She tells us why putting together this walk was important to her.
"This event is to raise awareness about suicide and how we can prevent it and to let people know that have lost someone to suicide that they are not alone," Lukes said. "For me, my daughter died by suicide two years ago so I want to honor her, and so last year around this time, at a women's club meeting, I said it's suicide prevention month and I would like to see our club sponsor a suicide prevention walk."
In addition to the walk, Cobden Women's Club brought in a speaker from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Beth Morrison says why she chose to come out and speak at the gathering.
"This is a personal cause for me. I also have personal experience with suicide loss, and having lost family members and friends and one of my son's peers to suicide," Morrison said.
Kealy Akin is from Nashville, Tennessee. She walked in the event as well. She said she is concerned about the limited help there is for those who struggle with suicide tendencies.
"I'm frustrated. I am frustrated and the reason being in 17 years when my father passed away from suicide and he struggled with mental illnesses," Akin said. "We have not seen a lot of advancement right. We've not seen a lot of different ways to treat it. We have not seen an increase in available care, especially in these rural communities. In fact, we are stagnant if not worse. Pay attention, get involved. It's a big issue."
Along the path were crosses. Each one of the crosses represents someone who has passed away due to death by suicide. Each person who walked wants suicide prevention to be a point of discussion in the community more often.
Lukes also shared they will be having another event next year as well.
