Last week, Nell J Redfield was among the sponsors of the Mental Health/Suicide Awareness Walk that took place at Malad High School and the Malad City Cemetery.  September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and Malad has participated in the remembrance walk officially for the last eight years.  The event featured comments from registered nurse and health educator Rachel Madsen, after which those in attendance walked from the high school to the cemetery’s newly added “Million Broken Hearts” monument and back.  Along the way, signs placed in memory of loved ones who had died by suicide were placed along the path.  The somber event was designed to raise awareness of the widespread issues related to suicidality and mental health, which are beyond easy classification in terms of who they affect.  As Rachel Madsen mentioned in her talk, there is no one who is not or has not been affected by the suicide of someone in their own lives.   

The school was opened up to the public before the scheduled part of the event began, as attendees visited the various booths set up in the lobby of the high school.  In addition to the Crisis Center and the MHS Counseling department, which have been involved in the walk since it began, a number of other organizations were on hand to speak with and provide information to guests.

The library is one of the new booths on hand, and serves the community as a repository of resources and information on health care topics, as well as a gathering place for members of the community who might feel at times isolated.  The Extension Office was on hand to discuss the various programs that it offers for both kids and adults.  The Oneida Senior Center was also represented.  One of the least discussed but nonetheless significant populations for which suicide and mental health issues have a major impact is the population of those over 65.  Recent data has shown that the prevalence of depression and suicidal ideation has been consistently underreported for a variety of reasons.  New counseling center Valley View Counseling was present as well, as Nicole Daniels introduced herself and the services Valley View offers.  The Village is a facility in Pocatello that works with at-risk young people to provide a safe space and temporary location to work on personal issues.  Others were also present at the event, which was very well-attended. 

Food for the event consisted of Walking Tacos, which were prepared and served by Malad High School’s FCCLA chapter under the direction of Shantel Tavoian.  The FCCLA also provided refreshments after the walk.

The “Million Broken Hearts” monument was placed at the Malad City Cemetery in time for Memorial Day earlier this year.  It is the result of a long effort by local author Jill Vanderwood to create a place in the cemetery devoted to remembering those lost to suicide, domestic violence, or accidental death.  The monument reads, in part “Each life that is ended through violence, suicide, or accidental death leaves behind a million broken hearts.”

Rachel Madsen spoke briefly before the walk started.  She has lived in Malad for the past 13 years, and has trained students to become Certified Nursing Assistants for 24 years.  She is a Mental Health First Aid Instructor and has recently focused her efforts on creating and providing resources to empower those who are trying to improve their mental health.  Through her personal and professional experiences, she feels strongly that making lifestyle changes is an important part of improving and maintaining optimum physical and mental health.

In her talk, Madsen encouraged those in the audience to introduce themselves to the person next to them, and ask them a series of questions about how they were doing.  She stressed the point that for many people, feeling like they are being heard and having a chance to talk about how they are is extremely important.  

The Crisis Center presented the startling finding that in many cases “within ten minutes an individual can go from thinking about suicide to action.”  As a result, it is important to be a ready listener, and be vigilant for any signs that a friend, family member, co-worker, or anyone else is potentially thinking about harming themselves or others.  

Suicide has long been stigmatized, despite its near-universal existence across cultures, age groups, ethnicities, economic classes, and every other demographic.  All communities are affected by suicide, and a suicide not only affects the immediate person who injures themselves, but the many people left behind.  In many cases, the entire community is affected by the act, which it is in everyone’s interest to help prevent. 

Rachel Madsen, as well as many of the others involved with the walk, stressed the importance of acknowledging the reality of suicidality as a very real issue that can only be addressed when it is brought out of the darkness and into the light, where those suffering can potentially receive support and intervention from others.  There are a large number of pressures and stressors that contribute to suicidal ideation, but they can only be dealt with when they are transparently discussed and engaged with as issues.  

Labyrinth Assessment and Behavioral Services, Malad City, MentallyFitU365, Oneida School District Counseling Departments, Nell J. Redfield Memorial Hospital, Oneida County Extension Office, Oneida County Library, Oneida County Senior Center, Oneida Crisis, SICOG, Southeastern Idaho Public Health, The Village, and Valley View Counseling all participated.