A community of hope walks against stigma
‘‘Breaking the stigma’’ around suicide was the big message behind a Palmerston North rally aiming to bring those affected together.
More than 200 people decked out in yellow walked through Victoria Esplanade on Sunday morning as part of Hope Walk, a local version of a nationwide movement with the goal of raising awareness about issues surrounding suicide.
Youth One Stop Shop and Youthline were both on site to hand out information or talk to people, while supporters had donated four buckets of painted rocks as part of the Palmy Rocks campaign.
People took time before the walk began to write messages on a board, with many leaving notes to mothers, fathers, cousins and friends who had taken their lives.
Toni Harding and Stacey Batt took part in the walk in memory of their father-in-law and father, respectively, Robert ‘‘Batman’’ Batt, who took his own life in 2014.
Harding said they were also there to support the other walkers.
‘‘It’s hard and sometimes you don’t know what to say or do, but everyone here is feeling the same way.’’
When her father-in-law died ‘‘words cannot express how hard’’ it was to cope, she said.
But the family learnt how important it was to stick together.
‘‘Sometimes you just don’t know what to say, but just having people around, but not saying anything, was really good.
‘‘Everyone copes in different ways, but having family and friends is a big help.’’
Walk organiser Katina Hughes, who lost her brother Adam to suicide in 2009 just weeks before his 33rd birthday, said she was extremely happy with how many people turned up.
‘‘The turnout is indicative of what a touching subject this is for people. ‘‘We are here for love.’’ There was a big stigma around suicide, and events like Hope Walk would hopefully tear that down.
‘‘I think most people want to do something, but that’s the problem – they don’t know what to say or what to do.
‘‘It’s fear of saying the wrong thing, then saying nothing, that creates silence, and silence creates that stigma.’’
It had been scary putting her own experiences with suicide out there, but she hoped doing so would help others.
While the Palmerston North arm of Hope Walk was not a registered charity, the national organisation was. People can get more information at hopewalk.co.nz.