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Local woman walks for suicide prevention
| Article published on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 |
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SEMINOLE – Bonnie McClelland of Seminole will embark on a walk covering up to 18 miles June 27 and 28, from sunset to sunrise, to raise funds and awareness for suicide prevention, education and research programs and support survivors of suicide loss.
Net proceeds from the Out of the Darkness Overnight event in Chicago will support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and will help make suicide prevention a national priority.
“I am walking in memory of my only child, Timothy McClelland, who died by suicide on Jan. 21, 2002 at 17,” said Bonnie. “Tim left a suicide note that said ‘learn from this and help each other.’”
Bonnie founded the Suncoast Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention program in his memory.
“I am walking for all the wonderful people I have met on this journey who have had loved ones die by suicide,” she said. “I am walking to help make a difference so no one else will know this pain.”
Participants agree to raise at least $1,000 each to walk.
Close to one million people make a suicide attempt each year and every 16 minutes someone dies by suicide in the United States.
More than 90 percent of people who die by suicide have an underlying mental illness, most often depression. More than 24 million people suffer from depression or another mood disorder each year.
Suicide affects people of all age groups and socio-economic backgrounds. It is the fourth-leading cause of death among adults 18 to 65, the third leading cause of death among teens and young adults and individuals ages 65 and older account for 16 percent of all suicide deaths.
To help McClelland reach her fundraising goal or to get more information about The Overnight, call 888-The-Overnight or visit www.TheOvernight.org, or log onto www.suncoastyr.org and donate through the local suicide prevention chapter.
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Article published on Tuesday, June 23, 2009
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