TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) – Wednesday was Worldwide Suicide Prevention Day and Team of Mercy held it’s 4th annual candlelight vigil.
According to CDC, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States.
“I don’t want to take away from any other type of death because that’s traumatic as well but there is another layer when your loved one has died by suicide,” said Christina Crist, executive director of Team of Mercy.
Thursday, dozens of community members met near Terre Haute City Hall for a candlelight vigil to honor and remember those who lost their life to suicide.
“Our loved ones aren’t able to be with us in body anymore,” Crist said.
“But we don’t want them to forever be forgotten,” said Sue Jones, president of Team of Mercy board.
During the vigil, staff with Team of Mercy, Terre Haute and Vigo County officials, and some personally impacted by suicide had the opportunity to share their stories.
Two of those are Wendy and Paris Bailey.
“There needs to be more acknowledgement of it, not be that ‘it’s Worldwide Suicide Prevention Day, oh well.’ That’s not what it is. It means something to those of us who live it daily. We miss my brother, her uncle,” said Wendy Bailey, who lost a family member to suicide.
Bailey says especially as the country deals with adversity, she believes being compassionate could go a long way in preventing more instances of suicide.
“People feel more alone, they’re isolated, it’s like a trauma to them so I think if we all could work on being nicer, more mindful of our words, and maybe take action rather than let it happen and we watch, maybe that can be the difference,” Bailey said.
Crist says 116 names were announced during the vigil; these are the names of some who died by suicide locally.
To reach the National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255.
