The national issue of suicide — particularly among veterans — touched many people who attended the Walk for Hope on Wednesday morning at Western Nevada College.

Presented by WNC’s Veterans Resource Center and the Wildcat Veterans Club, the event was focused on not only raising suicide awareness but providing resources and empowering people to prevent suicide.

Prior to the 1-mile scenic walk behind WNC’s Carson City campus, attendees listened to heartfelt speeches from college representatives and from people working directly in the field of suicide prevention. 

“Having been touched directly and indirectly by people in my circle who have contemplated or entertained suicide, this is a very important topic,” said WNC President Dr. J. Kyle Dalpe. “It’s a difficult conversation, but these types of events make it an easier conversation. We are committed as an organization to providing resources and we are investing in mental health services for students. If it helps one person not make that decision, that helps us all and it’s worth the money we’ve spent.”

Amy Roby, the community program coordinator for the Suicide Prevention Network in Minden, and Emma White of the Nevada Office of Suicide Prevention were also on hand to provide support for the event by sharing their experiences and how we all can contribute to preventing it.

Roby’s nonprofit organization focuses on advocacy and prevention, providing free services and programs to the public. 

“We do this through trainings and education about recognizing signs that someone might be experiencing a mental health condition or possibly having thoughts of suicide,” she said. “Opening up the conversation of mental wellness and eliminating the stigma that prevents someone to seek the support that they need and deserve. 

“No one should ever feel embarrassed or hesitant to reach out for help. We are whole beings and we don’t hesitate to seek support for an ear infection or broken limb; brain health is no different. This work is very precious to me.”

Roby has experienced the loss of someone close to her from suicide and is determined to help others prevent it from happening to their friends and family members.

 “I didn’t know then what I know now, which is why I feel like it is so important that we all learn to be more alert that someone else might be having a moment of difficulty, a season of difficulty or possibly having thoughts about suicide,” Roby said. “When we know more, we can do more. Education is so important; it’s empowering. Suicide is something that impacts us all and we can all work together to create more robust suicide-aware and suicide-safe communities.”

White serves as the statewide youth suicide prevention coordinator. 

“It’s such an important cause, such an important conversation,” she said. “I’m very passionate about suicide prevention because that comes from my own experience of surviving suicide when I was 15. Unfortunately, after that, I’ve lost people in my life to suicide as well.

“The only way we can decrease our suicide numbers is through events like this, through training, through preparing people to having these conversations, expanding access to resources. We can’t do it without all people being onboard. Suicide prevention is really everyone’s business.”

WNC Associated Students of Western Nevada President Suzanna Stankute and Wildcat Veterans Club President Leo Triglia also spoke to attendees.

“It’s apparent that in a world where we’ve never been more connected, that we have never felt more alone,” Triglia said. “The only cure for loneliness that causes suicide is humanity. If we truly wish to fight suicide, we have to take ownership within each of our lives and the lives around us. Ownership means we must stop putting the burden to single days of awareness and making it a constant burden that we carry daily.”

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Call, text or chat 988 for help.

Following the walk, participants enjoyed refreshments and checked out a variety of resources available to help people considering suicide.