WAPAKONETA, Ohio (WLIO) — People in Auglaize County came together to raise awareness of suicide and offer support to those struggling with mental health.
This is the second year for the Out of the Darkness walk, and the event grew larger, with more participants signing up to take part. The Wapakoneta walk is one of many nationwide events raising money for suicide prevention programs. The event was organized by Teresa Fisher, who lost a loved one to suicide. She said her goal was to let others know they are not alone and to help remove the stigma surrounding conversations about suicide and mental health.
“Losing a loved one is not an easy thing. It's what has pushed me to work on bringing the communities together and starting a walk within our county. But a lot of the people that are here are not just from Auglaize County. So, it for me, it was just a way to help bring us together, show everybody they're loved, give that support out to the families who have lost somebody and to the ones that are still struggling," said Fisher, Auglaize County Out of the Darkness Walk organizer.
Many organizations were on hand to share information about their resources and programs, focusing on helping people struggling with mental health issues and supporting families who have lost a loved one to suicide.
