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‘It’s OK to reach out for help’

Marshall walk raises awareness for mental health and suicide prevention

Photo by Deb Gau Participants in the Out of the Darkness Walk in Marshall on Saturday arrived at the campus of Southwest Minnesota State University, going through the pedestrian underpass from Marshall High School. The walk raised awareness and funding for mental health education and advocacy.

MARSHALL — It was the perfect day for a walk outside — but it was more than the sunshine that brought people together at Marshall High School on Saturday morning. The crowd was gathered to honor loved ones, raise awareness of mental health needs, and most importantly to bring hope.

“You are here to not only save lives, but to prove hope walks today, here in Marshall,” said keynote speaker Maris Ehlers to an audience of area residents.

The Out of the Darkness campus walk, held Saturday at MHS and Southwest Minnesota State University, was a joint effort from the Born To Be Alive — Yellow Ribbon Group at MHS, and the American Foundation For Suicide Prevention. Event organizers called on area residents to help create a culture that’s smarter about mental health, and encouraged people to get help for illnesses like depression.

“We need to let people know it’s OK to reach out for help,” KC Boerboom said.

Half the funds raised by Saturday’s walk would be used for local education and advocacy about mental health and suicide prevention, said Cassandra Linkenmeyer, Minnesota area director for AFSP.

“The more people we can get enabled with a little bit of knowledge, the more lives we can save,” Linkenmeyer said. Some AFSP’s programs are geared toward young people and educators, teaching how to recognize signs of depression and encourage people to reach out for help. In the future, she said, AFSP hopes to also partner with health care providers.

“In rural communities, your primary care might be your mental health care provider,” she said.

There was a variety of information on coping with mental illness available for participants before the walk started up. Augsburg University student Tanya Reese presented information on how nutrition and diet can help fight anxiety and depression. It’s important knowledge for people who might not respond to medication and therapy, she said.

But one of the most important parts of the Out of the Darkness Walk, participants said, was the feeling of support it brings.

“We’re trying to help eliminate that stigma” associated with mental illness, Reese said.

Keishia Caraway said one of the good things about taking part in the Out of the Darkness Walk was being reminded that you’re not alone. Walkers remembered loved ones who were affected by suicide or mental illness.

“It’s knowing other people deal with it, not just you,” she said.

In her talk before the walk, Ehlers shared the story of her brother Kirk Murphy, who died by suicide in 2003. Kirk’s death had a lasting impact on her family, Ehlers said, and there are thousands of people each year affected by suicide.

Ehlers called on area residents to work together to talk about mental health openly, and to work together to help people who may be experiencing depression or thoughts of suicide.

“The conversations have to be about causes, about intervention, about treatment, but also about the fallout,” Ehlers said.

The most important thing we can do for our loved ones, Ehlers said, is to connect with them about how they’re feeling.

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