Get out of the dark about suicide
The Halvas family at the Highlands Ranch Out of the Darkness walk for suicide prevention and awareness.
Article by Kathy Dunker with photos courtesy of Jenn Halvas
Losing a loved one is devastating. Losing a loved one to suicide is all the more traumatic since the grief is often combined with feelings of guilt, anger, and hopelessness.
According to the website www.forgriefsurvivors.com, “Surviving the suicide of a loved one is a journey. It is not an easy journey and no one chooses it.” Winterberry resident Jenn Halvas knows this from personal experience. She lost her brother, Michael Troy Timmons, known as “Whitey”, to suicide last July.
Since this difficult loss, Halvas has become involved with the Out of the Darkness campaign to prevent suicide of all ages. Highlands Ranch High School hosted a walk to raise money and awareness for suicide prevention in Douglas County on September 11, which the Halvas family participated in. The 2.9-mile walk brought more than 660 walkers and raised approximately $57,800 at last tally. Halvas’s team, Team Whitey, raised $1,460.
Proceeds from the Out of the Darkness walks benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) which is the leading non-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide. Through research, education, and by reaching out to people with mood disorders and those impacted by suicide, AFSP serves to increase national awareness about depression and suicide, and assist survivors of suicide loss.
Suicide awareness is a very necessary goal in Douglas County. According to the State of Colorado Office of Suicide Prevention (OSP) annual report of 2009, suicide is the leading cause of death for Coloradans between the ages of 10 and 34. About 800 people per year commit suicide in Colorado. Depression, unemployment, mental illness, and family history all can be contributing factors that lead a person to have suicidal thoughts.
For more information about the Out of the Darkness organization or to make a contribution, visit www.outofthedarkness.org. Donations for the Highlands Ranch walk can be made until December 31.
