Reaching Out and Saving Lives: World Suicide Prevention Day Event Honors and Remembers All Those Affected by Suicide

By Emily Alvarez

“If you have lost a loved one or friend to suicide, please light a candle in their memory. If you are a survivor of your own suicide crisis or mental health condition or because you care deeply about someone else who has faced these difficult challenges, please light a candle to honor the struggle and the overcoming of it. Finally if you support the cause of suicide prevention and mental health promotion for another reason, we ask you to light a candle to honor this reason.”

Everyone has a reason to light a candle. Last week, 30 people from all walks of life joined the Carson J Spencer Foundation and the Denver Fire Department at a Candle-Lighting Ceremony to recognize all those affected by suicide. The gathering was held at Cheesman Park Pavilion, 1177 Race St, Denver, Denver, CO, September 10^th, 7:00pm-8:00pm. A Chaplain with the Denver Fire Department, Chief Warren Mitchell of the Denver Fire Department and Jess Stohlmann-Rainey of Carson J Spencer Foundation spoke during the ceremony.

“This is worldwide—800,000 people die by suicide each year. That is the equivalent of 4,000 airline jets crashing every year. Yet we don’t hear about the suicide deaths, and that is because of stigma” said Chaplain Ron Biegler.

There are a lot of scary statistics when it comes to suicide and a lot of people see them as depressing and not uplifting. We know that lived experience is just as important as science and statistics and value that with just as much importance. We find that including stories of lived experience can connect with people and potentially get them help.

“It is a social justice issue that people who desperately need help are unable to access services because of stigma and discrimination,” said Jess Stohlmann-Rainey, Senior Program Director of CJSF. “It is an injustice that someone’s life circumstances, identity, or mental health condition can be so painful that they see no other path to relief. It is an injustice that staying alive can be the hardest thing a person has to do.”

Jess uses her lived experience to fight stigma and social injustice. By making a commitment to suicide prevention, she is making sure that another 15 year old girl knows how to ask for help before her darkest moment, and that her parents, friends, and community know how to help her when she can’t help herself.

Three years ago, the Denver Fire Department was rocked by a suicide within their ranks. That is what started the extremely beneficial partnership between them and CJSF. The DFD has taken suicide prevention very seriously and take great strides to include it in their total wellness programs.

“The mission of the Denver Fire Department peer support program is to ensure that firefighters in need know there is someone to help ‘who has walked in their shoes,’” said Assistant Chief Warren Mitchell, one of the DFD peer support leaders. “Nearly everyone in our department has been affected by suicide, whether through the loss of a loved one, individual mental health struggles, or responding to a call. At this candle lighting, we will honor people we have lost, survivors, and those who respond.”

Chaplain Ron Biegler ended the evening with an old Irish blessing:

“May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rain falls soft upon your fields and,

Until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.”