COLUMBIA, S.C. — Hundreds flooded the Columbia Riverfront Park on Sunday for the annual Out of the Darkness Walk.
Ashley McCall said she has fond memories of her brother Colby McCall, who she lost to suicide at 21. On Sunday, she and her family showed up at the Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park in his honor.
"Colby was just a lively individual. Anytime you saw him, you saw his smile, you saw him dancing; he enjoyed photography," she said.
According to John Tjaarda with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), the walk's goal was to provide support and raise awareness for people impacted by suicide. He said over 600 people showed up on Sunday to walk.
"There's many people out there who want one goal, and that's to save lives," he said.
According to AFSP, in 2021, suicide was the 11th leading cause of death and accounted for over 48,000 deaths nationally. But Tjaarda said conversations are changing, and he's seeing the stigma shift around suicide.
"I think COVID surprisingly helped us a lot with tuning into our mental health and being able to be in a comfortable enough place to talk about it. It's getting better," he said. There's this big stigma attached to mental health and suicide and suicide loss, specifically to where people were very uncomfortable talking about it. We still see that, but we're trying to shout from the rooftops that it's okay to not be OK."
Walkers also had access to resources and the opportunity to speak with a mental health expert in the afternoon if needed. Participants were given color-coded bead necklaces based on their connection to suicide.
Travis Duncan with the Army National Guard was in attendance on Sunday and said it's important everyone knows they're loved and that there are resources for those who need them.
"One is too many. A simple gesture of asking somebody if they're OK, if they're having these intrusive thoughts, and digging in with them and showing them that they're supported in every way, will combat all of it," he said.
McCall said she wanted to come out with her family to support those who were going through the same as they did. She said she wants everyone to know they're not alone.
"Please, please reach out for support; reach out for help. We want to acknowledge that and bring awareness to that," she said.
If you're in South Carolina and need emergency mental health support, text or call 988 for the statewide crisis and suicide helpline. For more resources from AFSP, visit their website.
