The issue of suicide was brought out of the shadows in a big way on Friday morning when about 500 people walked the streets of Wangaratta in an impressive show of strength and unity.
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It has been a tough year for Wangaratta residents, many who have lost loved ones to suicide within a short period of time.
Friday’s Puka Up Community Walk was all about opening up and dealing with that pain, and allowing others to discuss mental health and depression issues they may have otherwise been too scared to share.
It was organised by Ross Hill and Tim Briggs who reached out to former AFL football player Wayne Schwass to run the event through his organisation Puka Up, which encourages people to talk about mental health.
Many who took part in the walk wore Puka Up T-shirts with the number 2866, signifying the number of people who killed themselves in 2016.
The most recent Australia Bureau of Statistics data, released just this week, revealed that number had sadly increased to 3128 in 2017.
Mr Hill said it was a humbling sight to have so many people take part in the walk, which started from outside the Holy Trinity Cathedral just after 9am.
“It came about a few months ago after the most recent case of suicide in Wangaratta. You see a lot of Facebook posts about wanting to take a stand, wanting to do something. It’s just dawned on me, why not do something?” he said.
“When we put our heads together and tried to decide on an event so we could raise awareness of suicide in the community, we probably didn’t consider the magnitude.
“It speaks volumes of how much it means to everyone.
“We think it’s going to be a really valuable tool to bring everyone together and start the conversations.”
The five-kilometre walk took participants along main roads, walking paths and parks before finishing at the Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre.
“We want to start the conversation, open up to each other and show that support,” Mr Hill said.
“We’re obviously going to be stronger in numbers than we are individually and that’s the symbol of today.”
In a moment of lightness, Mr Briggs assured people the black and white balloons had nothing to do with Collingwood being in the AFL grand final.
Mr Schwass thanked Mr Hill and Mr Briggs “on behalf of the people impacted by this destructive force called suicide” for taking the step of organising the walk for Wangaratta.
He said the crowd of about 500 was an amazing turnout, but paid special tribute to those who were grieving the loss of loves ones.
“Thank you for giving up your time to join what I believe is a really, really important conversation,” he said.
“Thank you for finding the courage to stand with us this morning, given your loss, given the impact it had at that time, given the impact it probably will still have for a long time to come.
“This is a really uncomfortable topic to talk about, it affects an enormous amount of people and I am incredibly passionate about the issue of suicide prevention.”
“Puka” is a Hindi word and meaning “authentic”, and Mr Schwass said he was passionate in his belief that authentic conversations were the key to stopping more suicides.
“It affects everybody, either directly or indirectly, and I genuinely don’t believe people need to get to a position where they think that it the only option they have left available,” he said.
“This issue affects so many people and I just hope that today is the beginning of a broader conversation.
“I understand that it’s confronting, it’s complex, it’s challenging, it’s bloody uncomfortable to talk about.
“But the reality is, it’s never been more important to talk about it.”
I understand that it’s confronting, it’s complex, it’s challenging, it’s bloody uncomfortable to talk about. But the reality is, it’s never been more important to talk about it.
- Wayne Schwass
Friday’s walk was one of those opportunities for people to have authentic conversations about suicide in a safe, non-judgemental space.
They were encouraged to keep those conversations going in the future, to normalise the issue and offer those around them support.
“When we normalise it, we bring it out of the dark, we bring it into the light,” Mr Schwass said.
“Those simple conversations offer hope, those simple conversations offer a connection.”
Kaye Connor and Merril Darlow had never met before they started talking along the walk yesterday.
They were just two of the many people who took up the advice to start talking about suicide.
Ms Connor’s family was one who had experienced the pain of losing someone to suicide and she said she would start wearing her 2866 regularly, using the opportunity to start a conversation with those who ask what it means.
“It’s just so much better if you all talk about it,” she said.
Ms Darlow said she hoped people in Wangaratta will be able to reach out and ask for help if they do have suicidal thoughts.
“It needs to reach a point we stop the community stigma because that’s what causes the problems,” she said.
Mr Schwass has battled with mental issues himself for the past 24 years and was last on the Border in June for a community forum on the issue.
He revealed yesterday that Wangaratta would be one of four stops on the 2019 Puka Up bike ride, which travels between communities to raise awareness of the issue.
A community forum will also be held as part of the trip.
“Our mission is to stop people thinking they have to end their life,” Mr Schwass said.
“We will work with local stakeholders, council and the community to deliver a mental health and wellbeing presentation.”
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