"We had a guy jump last night," Seattle FRIENDS founder Ryan Thurston said. He was referring to Thursday, April 17, when a man committed suicide by jumping off the Aurora Bridge, which connects the Fremont and Queen Anne neighborhoods. It is the second deadliest suicide bridge in the country, surpassed only by the Golden Gate in San Francisco.FRIENDS (Fremont Individuals and Employees Nonprofit to Decrease Suicide) is an organization dedicated to eliminating suicides from the bridge. It was founded to raise money for family and friends of bridge jumpers but switched its focus to suicide prevention after realizing no action was being taken to stop the problem. On average, someone leaps from the bridge once every three months. Since its construction in 1931, more than 230 people have jumped and died. More than half of the victims land on the busy intersections, parking lots and pavement below.Overall, 207 people in King County took their own lives last year.FRIENDS is working closely with the city and state to create a suicide barrier on the bridge.This year, members of the organization are also excited to take part in the 20-mile Out of the Darkness overnight walk hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). A HOPEFUL EVENTAFSP started the walk after the organization realized that there were walks for most leading causes of death except suicide. The name Out of the Darkness has literal meaning in that the walk takes place from dusk to dawn. It is also symbolic of mental illness and suicide being commonly held in secrecy.Out of the Darkness has been successful in major cities like New York; Washington, D.C.; San Francisco; and Chicago. This is the first year the walk will take place in Seattle.AFSP executive director Bob Gebbia said, "Seattle is a wonderful city for something like this. The people are very generous and socially conscious."His comment rings true in the case of Lara Schneider, a North Seattle participant who is walking in remembrance of the five friends she has lost to suicide, as well as her fiancé's best friend who committed suicide last year.Her friends in New York participated, and when a local friend sent her the link to the walk's website, Schneider decided that she'd "pull up [her] boot straps" and do it."One little walk in the dark is nothing compared to what my friends went through when they contemplated and committed suicide," she said.By participating in the walk, she hopes to "get some emotional relief and do as much as I can as far as fund raising." She is walking with a friend who has also been affected by suicide, as well as her fiancé's mother and his sister. She is looking forward to meeting more people who have had similar experiences. So far, Schneider has raised $2,000.Gebbia said that Schneider's reasons for participating are common: "It is a very hopeful event - powerful, emotional, but upbeat."PREVENTION, INTERVENTIONThe Out of the Darkness event is a proactive walk to raise awareness about the suicide prevention. The proceeds fund research into the genetic and biological factors of suicide, as well as finance educational programs on the issue.Gebbia explained, "The studies help us understand the root causes of suicide and to develop better prevention and intervention techniques."According to him, 90 percent of those who die have an underlying problem such as depression, bipolar disorder, anorexia, bulimia or a drug or alcohol addiction. Predispositions to these diseases are sometimes genetic. Biological factors such as brain chemistry also contribute to the probability of being affected by such a disease. More than 20 million people suffer from depression each year and 30,000 Americans commit suicide yearly.AFSP funds educational programs for primary-care physicians, mental-health workers, clergy, educators and anyone who needs to identify a person affected by a mental illness. The programs teach these professionals how to recognize the problem and recommend someone for treatment, which is often psychotherapy. Medication is prescribed on occasion.AFSP is currently finishing production of a film on teen depression. The film will be geared toward high school health classes.The organization also holds support groups for families of suicide victims, teaching them that it is never their fault but rather the fault of the illness.Proceeds from the Seattle walk will help start an AFSP branch in Seattle, which will provide resources to residents of the city and surrounding areas.LARGE TURNOUT EXPECTEDThe Seattle walk is predicted to be a success. "Raising a million dollars would be nice," Gebbia said. "It would be possible since it is usually a big event."For the San Francisco walk, 1,200 people came out, and 1,500 participated in the New York event. Gebbia hopes Seattle will draw the same size crowd, if not a larger one.Those wishing to participate are urged to register in advance since they will receive a coach to help them with fund-raising tactics (a participant must raise a minimum of $1,000) as well as training for the event. People can do as much or as little of the walk as they wish. Shuttles will take participants to rest areas, which are placed every three miles and are well-stocked with food and water.The walk will take place from June 21 to June 22. To participate, register on-line at www.theovernight.org or call 888-TheOvernight (888-843-6837).For more information about the Aurora Bridge barrier or the Seattle Friends group, visit www.seattlefriends.org.[[In-content Ad]]
