Walking Through The Darkness: Local Suicide Awareness Walk offers community and solace to grieving families
Photos submitted to the Times Observer Approximately 30 people gathered for the annual Suicide Awareness and Memorial Walk on Sept. 30. The event welcomes community members to walk for awareness and support of those affected by suicide. The event was a collaborative effort by Family Services of Warren County, Inc., Be Well Warren County YMCA, and Warren and Forest Recovery Centers - Phoenix Project.
Signs remind those passing by the recent Suicide Awareness and Memrial Walk that mental health struggles are common and nothing to be ashamed of.
Photos submitted to the Times Observer Approximately 30 people gathered for the annual Suicide Awareness and Memorial Walk on Sept. 30. The event welcomes community members to walk for awareness and support of those affected by suicide. The event was a collaborative effort by Family Services of Warren County, Inc., Be Well Warren County YMCA, and Warren and Forest Recovery Centers - Phoenix Project.
Signs remind those passing by the recent Suicide Awareness and Memrial Walk that mental health struggles are common and nothing to be ashamed of.
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In the wake of tragedy, finding a sense of connection can feel impossible.
But for one local mother, a community gathering provided a small sliver of comfort during her family's grieving.
Just three weeks after the tragic loss of her son, Aidan, Jennifer Morningstar joined neighbors, friends, and fellow loss survivors at the annual Suicide Awareness and Prevention Walk. Navigating a grief so fresh, she found solace in walking alongside a community united by shared heartbreak and collective hope.
"I was very grateful they had a walk, especially since my son passed away three weeks before," she said. "I had many family and friends come to support us. I want to get involved and hope the walk will grow more."
The event, which aims to break the stigma surrounding mental health challenges and provide resources for those left behind, took on a profoundly personal meaning for everyone in attendance. For families newly affected by tragedy, the walk served as a powerful reminder that even in the deepest isolation of loss, they do not have to walk alone.
The family of Seth Edwards returned again this year to remember Seth, show support, and comfort those who recently lost a family member or friend. Seth’s family continues to advocate for suicide prevention through volunteering with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and participating with their local suicide task force. In addition, they held their first CanLK Walk of Hope at Canadohta Lake in August of this year with the proceeds divided between AFSP and Crawford County Suicide Task Force (CCSTF) and look forward to making it an annual event.
"Walking with others brought back many memories of our time living in Warren and our first six years of our lives together. Seth and his brother Trent had attended the daycare at the church and Seth completed 1st grade at Market Street Elementary before moving away in 2005," shared mother Dawn Edwards. "Grief is always on the surface but through our works and participation with these prevention and awareness efforts has allowed us to be there for others. If we are able to help one person from choosing suicide or a family from the losing a loved one, we have done this in Seth’s honor. There is hope, there is help, please stay another day."
The YMCA Be Well program and the Suicide Prevention Coalition hold meetings on the first Wednesady of the month at 1 p.m. For more information, visit: https://warrenymca.org/bewell
Free webinars are offered twice a month at preventsuicidepa.org Upcoming topics include Social Media, AI, Chatbots, and Youth Mental Health and Supporting Student Re-entry.