‘You are not alone’: Cedar City hosts 5th annual ‘Out of the Darkness’ walk to prevent suicide

Cedar City's fifth annual "Out of the Darkness" community walk for suicide prevention, Cedar City, Utah, Sept. 17, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

CEDAR CITY — Approximately 300 people took part in Cedar City’s fifth annual “Out of the Darkness” community walk to prevent suicide on Saturday.

Cedar City’s fifth annual “Out of the Darkness” community walk for suicide prevention, Cedar City, Utah, Sept. 17, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

The event, which raised more than $20,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, took place at Cedar City’s Main Street Park.

Iron County has lost at least 12 residents to suicide over the past 12 months, event organizer Bri Sherratt said during her opening remarks, shortly before a moment of silence was observed in their memory. 

During the program’s “honor bead” ceremony, several people who’d agreed to share their stories came forward when introduced by Sherratt, who then spoke briefly about how each of them had been affected by suicide. 

For example, Cedar City Police Cpl. Eric Heaps, who is also a commander in the 222nd Field Artillery Battalion, wore a string of silver beads around his neck as he stepped forward.

Bri Sherratt reads statistics about military and law enforcement suicides, as Cedar City Cpl. Eric Heaps wears silver beads in their memory, during Cedar City’s fifth annual “Out of the Darkness” community walk for suicide prevention, Cedar City, Utah, Sept. 17, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

“Eric wears silver beads in memory of the many first responders, military service members and veterans that have died by suicide,” Sherratt said, adding that suicide is has become the single leading cause of death among law enforcement personnel and firefighters, with more dying by suicide than working in the line of duty.

Additionally, Sherratt noted, “The suicide rate for military service members veterans is four times higher than the deaths that occurred during military operations over the last 20 years.”

“The first responder community in Utah and the community surrounding the Utah National Guard have both experienced these trends over the years and have been working hard to offer help to those communities to get the help that they need,” she added.

Another participant named Natasha wore gold beads in honor of her mother Marla Stones, who died in 2020 at age 45.

Bri Sherratt reads aloud participant Amber’s reasons for taking part in Cedar City’s fifth annual “Out of the Darkness” community walk for suicide prevention, Cedar City, Utah, Sept. 17, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

“Natasha walks today in hopes that anyone struggling with suicidal ideation will reach out for help and talk about it,” Sherratt said. “She also wants to help those directly affected by losing someone to suicide.”

Another story shared was that of a woman named Amber, whose blue bead necklace highlighted her support for the cause. Amber also wore green beads to represent her own struggles with postpartum depression and suicidal ideation, Sherratt noted.

“Amber walks for suicide awareness and prevention for everyone, especially moms who feel like she did and sometimes she still does,” Sherratt said. “She wants you to know that you are not alone and there so please reach out if you’re struggling.”

For similar reasons, Randi Rowley was another participant who wore green beads to represent her own personal struggles.

Others in attendance wore various different colors of beads, each representing a different relationship or connection. They included fathers, children, siblings, spouses and partners of those who’d died by suicide. 

Chart showing what the different color of beads represent. | Image courtesy of American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, St. George News / Cedar City News

As the participants began the designated 5K walk from Main Street Park to Canyon Park and back, many wore customized T-shirts bearing supportive slogans such as “You are not alone” and “Be the voice.” Some shirts and signs also had the names of loved ones lost to suicide. Several of those individuals had their portraits on display at the event’s “memory table” under the pavilion.

Additionally, several booths were set up at the park, with counselors and mental health professionals, and service workers providing a variety of informational resources.

Sherratt said this year’s event, which was Cedar City’s fifth annual “Out of the Darkness” walk, had a total of 208 officially registered participants. A number of others, including small children, attended or took part without registering. 

Approximately 30 volunteers helped organize and staff the event, Sherratt said, adding that  several Southwest Tech EMT students also volunteered at the first aid stations along the way.

Cedar City’s fifth annual “Out of the Darkness” community walk for suicide prevention, Cedar City, Utah, Sept. 17, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

In addition, Sherratt thanked the event’s numerous sponsors for their generous support.

Honored as the top two fundraisers were Carrie Steiner and Terrie Rogers-Horvath, whose teams raised $3,465 and $2,280, respectively.

“Both of them had raised over $1,800 themselves by the day of the walk,” Sherratt noted.

This year’s event saw a record amount of donations, she added.

“As of right now we have $23,445 raised,” she told Cedar City on Saturday afternoon. “That may go up a bit, because I believe we still have some funds that haven’t been submitted or completely processed yet.”

For more information or to make a contribution online, visit the event’s donation page.

Resources

If you or someone you know is in danger because of suicidal thoughts or actions, call 911 immediately. Suicide is an emergency that requires help by trained medical professionals and should always be treated seriously.

Nationwide suicide hotlines, including the new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) and 1-800-273-TALK (8255), have counselors available 24/7. The Southwest Behavioral Health Center also offers help for Southern Utah residents; call 800-574-6763 or 435-634-5600.

Other resources include Suicide.org, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the American Association of Suicidology. All provide comprehensive information and help on the issue of suicide, from prevention to treatment to coping with loss.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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