Bluffton, S.C. (WSAV) The Lowcountry coast is often viewed as a positive place, with happy people and no worries. But even the most beautiful places lose loved ones to suicide. Bluffton hosted a suicide prevention walk to spread awareness of that common stigma and to show local community members that may be struggling – you are not alone in this.
The community gathered at oyster factory park for the annual prevention walk, honoring and advocating for loved ones lost in the battle with suicide. John Tjaarda, director of the South Carolina chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention says, the goal of the walk is to continue to spread awareness while also getting talks around the subject more common. “The more we talk about suicide and suicide prevention, the more we break that negative stigma that’s been associated with suicide and mental health and the more that we make it okay for somebody who might be struggling to reach out and ask for help,” says Tjaarda.
Co-chair organizer for the walk, Mary Doyle, says suicide is happening way more often than its actually talked about. “It’s a very diverse community. Suicide isn’t limited to any one person. Gender, race, sexual orientation.”