By Aidan Mortensen | KOAL News

A rainy morning on Saturday, Sept. 13, didn’t deter the community from showing up at the Price City Peace Garden to participate in the Southeast Utah Walk to Prevent Suicide. Hosted by the HOPE Squad of Carbon, Emery and Grand counties, the event connected community members with countless resources to aid in the fight against suicide.

“We gather here at a time when the world feels unbearably heavy,” said Amanda McIntosh, suicide prevention liaison for Four Corners Community Behavioral Health. “Violence and tragedy seem to surround us, and it can keep us questioning where hope is. But right here in this space is proof of that hope. Because, despite the heartache and uncertainty, we still show up for each other. We remember our loved ones. We hold space for one another, and we walk forward with purpose and with love. Today, it is not about the noise of the world. It’s about our choice to honor. To heal and to help others find their hope.

She continued,” By showing up today, you are sending the message that mental health is real and as important as physical health. You are sending the message that reaching out for help is incredibly strong and the brave thing to do. You are also helping to reduce the stigma and the taboos associated with self-help-seeking behaviors. You are showing others that the issue of suicide cannot and will not be kept quiet.”

The walk, which takes place across the nation, brings together hundreds of thousands of people to help bring awareness to suicide prevention and break the stigma surrounding mental health. Within Utah, suicide is the seventh leading cause of death.

In Price, the walk brought out over 130 registered walkers and raised almost $6,000 for organizations like the HOPE Squad and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

The event provided a space for attendees to connect with a wide variety of resources, including the HOPE Squad, AFSP, Life Balance Recovery, Carbon Medical, Utah State University Extension- HEART, Four Corners Community Behavioral Health, Castleview Hospital and the Southeast Utah Health Department.

Also speaking at the affair was Utah State Rep. Christine Watkins, who spoke on actions the State Legislature is looking to take to help promote mental health. “There are 104 legislators in the Utah State Legislature, and we represent all walks of life, and we live in the districts that we represent and advocate for. There is not one of us who hasn’t been impacted by some family member, or friend or neighbor who has chosen to end their own life, and when someone chooses this path, it doesn’t just send out some ripple waves; it’s a tsunami, and the effects are felt for years and years.”

Watkins continued,” You and I can affect what happens throughout the world. Still, we have an impact on the communities that we live in because we are neighbors, we are family, and we are friends. We have so many needs that can be helped by all of us getting time and energy toward community programs and events that help everyone.”

Following Watkins was a youth-centric speaker in Ayana Lee, who shared a message for the younger generation: “To the young people who may be here today, or who will hear about this walk, I want you to know you matter. Your story isn’t over, and you are never alone.”

Amy Stevens Jones, a social worker, addressed the crowd, sharing memories of her Brother Tysen and the importance of mourning with those experiencing suicide loss. “Death is strange. Death is wild. Death is the unknown. Death tends to have a way of certain flashbacks from previous years with your person death makes you question that makes you wonder. Death addresses every emotion that you have.”

Added Jones,” So for those who have lost, believe in those dragonflies, believe in the butterflies, believe in the red cardinals. When someone points out something that reminds them of their lost one, that lost soul, validate them. Tell them you hear them. Speak their name. They want to hear it. To those that haven’t lost, it may sound silly to you, but to those that have lost, trust me, it’s everything.”

She closed with a message of hope,” It’s important that in these times we rely on each other more than ever. To be a support system and to fill each other up with hope, purpose, and passion; to seek that help when navigating this grief journey … Be patient with yourself. Give yourself compassion and grace. And no matter where you are in your survivor journey, you’re not alone.”

The final set of Speakers was the Miss Carbon County Royalty, with Miss Carbon County Ivy Beecher explaining her community service initiative, ‘K.I.N.D.,’ or ‘Kindness in Noticing Differences.’ “It focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and it focuses on my friend Mateen. Mateen was bullied for the color of his skin and for his sexual identity, and he ended up taking his own life when I was 14. After losing him, it was a really hard time in my life, and I wanted to make people feel loved and valued through kindness and compassion and empathy, and that is what I’ve been doing this year.”

Miss Teen Carbon County Abby Bryant also shared her platform, ‘Community Unity’. “Community Unity is all about bringing people together through service. So, I’ve done clothing exchanges, hygiene drives, food drives and community cleanups, and I would love to do some more social events. The biggest part of Community Unity is to make sure everybody in the community feels loved and included.”

Rounding out the event, McIntosh awarded challenge coins to people and organizations in the community who have championed the cause of suicide prevention. The first coin was presented to Dr. Ashley Yaugher, who works as the USU Extension- HEART initiative coordinator. “Ashley is one of the fiercest Champions I’ve ever known, not just for substance use prevention, but for mental health, for suicide prevention, for breaking down stigma and for building bridges where there were only once gaps,” explained McIntosh.

The next coin was presented to Castle Country Radio. “Some partnerships are built on contracts and calendars, but some of the best ones are built on heart trust and shared belief. That’s exactly what we have found in our relationship with Castle Country Radio. Over the last seven years, Castle Country radio has become so much more than a media partner; they truly have become family,” shared McIntosh.

“They are the first to invite me in for interviews. The first to ask how they can help, the first to offer airtime, resources, and love when we need it most. Whether it’s covering our events, helping promote Suicide Prevention month, or writing powerful, compassionate follow-up stories that shine a light on the good happening here, they do it all with sincerity, purpose, and an unmistakable sense of hope.”

Closing the program, McIntosh gathered all in attendance, those who had faced all varieties of suicide loss, and gathered them in a group hug while all spoke the name of their loved ones.

“See that you are not alone in your grief or your healing journey. We as a community can come together and help each other in this fight to stop suicide,” said McIntosh.” As you look around and find common bead colors that you’re wearing, know that they are along on this journey with you and want to support you and you for them.”