MOUNT TRASHMORE PARK, Va. –
The crowd was silent as the woman spoke through the tears that fell down her face, Sept. 8.
More than 3,500 people, including representatives from all branches of the U.S. military, who came out to participate in the 4th annual Out of the Darkness suicide awareness walk, here, listened as her voice strained when she described the death of her husband, a master chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy who shot himself in the shower at their home.
He was two years away from retirement and had showed no overt signs of depression.
This woman's story, along with several others, was shared as people joined together and walked in support of the largest Out of the Darkness community walk in the nation. The event was open to the public, and provided an outlet for people to share stories of how suicide affected their lives, raise suicide awareness and meet other individuals who may be grieving, or suffering from depression.
"We want people to be aware that depression is something they can seek help for," said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Bryan Davidson, 633rd Medical Operations Squadron director of psychological health. "Never feel that you are at a loss. Though it seems dark, taking that first brave step of asking for assistance is really, really important."
Davidson, who joined numerous volunteers as a counselor- on-hand during the event, said it was sometimes heart-wrenching to hear the stories people shared.
"One person I spoke with had lost two siblings to suicide many years ago," he said. "It still affects her to this day."
Another volunteer counselor, Maj. Elizabeth Najera, 633rd MDOS behavioral flight commander, said even though many people who attended the walk were at various stages of the grieving process, most of them either came with a support group or found one at the event.
"For a lot of people the healing process can be a lifelong event," Najera said. "Grief impacts people in many different ways. It's so important for them to let someone know what they are going through."
Najera shared a story of an individual who lost a loved one nearly 27 years ago. She said the grief was still a part of the person's life. Najera wanted everyone who attended the event to know they weren't alone.
"In some ways it's good to hear these stories," Najera, who has attended the walk for the past three years, said. "It makes me glad to see people willing to talk and seek help."
Davison also encouraged individuals struggling with grief or depression to seek out resources in their local area.
"Anywhere someone lives there are resources designed to help people in pain," he said. "Many of them are totally free."
He also hoped that everyone would come away from this walk with a newfound appreciation for life and one another.
"Life is worth living," Davidson said. "There are always reasons to live. Living gives us the opportunity to live together."