Archive: Around Town

Every 13.3 minutes someone in the United States commits suicide.  More than 39,500 lives are lost to suicide each year.  Experts estimate that a suicide attempt is made every minute, with nearly one million people attempting suicide each year.  It the United States suicide is the 4th leading cause of death among adults 18 to 65 in age, and the second leading cause of death among teenagers.  16% of these suicides are committed by people over 65.  A few years ago Crystal Howser and Stacy Ayers decided to try to do something about the problem.  In its third year, their most recent Out Of The Darkness Community Walk on September 20th attracted over 373 walkers this year and raised $19,161 for suicide prevention.

"This is a public health issue that does not discriminate by age, gender, ethnicity, or socio-economic status," Howser says.  "That's a key point we tell people.  People say, why did that happen to so-and-so... they're rich, they're famous... they're still suffering from an illness."

Howser says more people may have participated this year in response to Robin William's suicide on August 11.  The actor took his own life at age 63.  Family and others close to Williams had no idea what may have caused him to kill himself.  Authorities said it did not appear to be premeditated.  The actor's death stunned fans across the nation, and that is why Howser thinks so many people showed up.

"Many people were talking about that," she says.  "Suicide doesn't discriminate.  It doesn't matter whether you are poor or rich.  

Walkers register on the national Web site to walk in the local event for free, but they are encouraged to solicit sponsors to donate to the cause.  This year the walk has raised $19,161 so far.  People can donate through the end of the year.  The money goes to the national organization, but is then filtered back to the local communities.

"The money that is raised in our walks goes to Cayuga, Cortland and Tompkins Counties," Houser says.  "This is the most we have raised.  We wanted to increase the number of walkers and funds raised each year.  When we started in 2012 we had a couple of hundred walkers and raised about $14,000.  Last year there was a little bit more.  This year there was a large response."


Howser and Ayers started the Ithaca walk in 2012.  Howser lost her father to suicide in 1998, and Ayers lost hers in 2005.  Someone told the women about the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and they decided to create a walk locally.  They decided to add another event, different each year.  The third Saturday of November is International Survivor of Suicide Day.  They hold a smaller event intended as a support event, rather than one for raising funds.  Howser says it brings people who have lost loved ones to suicide, or who have struggled with depression together in a more intimate setting with dishes to pass and a movie.

The 2.5 to 3 mile walk starts near the big turtle, passes Lynah Rink, then crosses the road and across the bridge, then back to the starting pavilion.  Participants who can't walk the whole distance are encouraged to walk part of it and then to circle back to the finish line.

They also hold education events at the schools.  Howser has held events at the Lansing schools, where she has children, and says they are reaching out to Dryden, where Ayer's children attend school.  She says other communities are reaching out to them to bring a program, including Homer and Moravia.  She says the events are geared toward older teens, teachers and other adults.

"It's a tough subject," she says.  "You may think loved ones are only sad.  They really may be suffering from depression or other ental illnesses.  Everyone has a bad day.  Everyone has that moment, but usually it's a bigger issue if they don't come out of their room for a day."

In its short three years the events have attracted people who come to each one.  Howser says they sometimes tell her they suffer from depression, or are being treated for a mental illness.  She says one woman lost her mother to suicide when she was a teenager.

"She is in her early 60s," Howser says.  "At that time you didn't talk about it.  She spoke at our International Survivors of Suicide Day in 2012.  It was the first time she ever spoke about her mother's suicide.  She tells us our work has helped save her.  Those are powerful words for someone to say to you."

"It's taken a tragedy that happened in my life that obviously I can't go back and change," says Howser.  "But I can do something good with that.  Stacy and I always say to each other that if we can reach one person at each event, we're doing what we want to do.  We want to save lives.  We want to reach people and say 'you are not alone.  There're people out there who love you, who you can talk to.   There are doctors and family and friends.  Some people have larger support systems than others, but ultimately you are not alone."

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