Indiana Post 451 shares Legion veteran suicide program during American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Out of the Darkness Walk.
Since 2004, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) has urged communities to stage Out of the Darkness walks to encourage people to open up about their own connections to suicide, and a platform to create a culture that’s smarter about mental health. Friends, family members, neighbors and coworkers walk side-by-side, supporting each other and in memory of those we’ve lost.
This year, American Legion Skwiat Post 451 in Michigan City, Ind., decided to use the walk to create more awareness about the Legion’s Be the One veteran suicide prevention program at the perfect time – during Suicide Prevention Month.
Ten members of Post 451’s American Legion Family took part in the Sept. 15 Out of the Darkness Walk at the Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve in nearby Chesterton.
“All of us that walked have been affected by suicide in some way or another,” said Sons of The American Legion Squadron Commander Jason Campbell, who teamed with Post 451 Service Officer Danielle Corley and were instrumental in putting together the group. “But as members of the American Legion Family, we wanted to promote The American Legion Be the One initiative to get that word out as well about what we doing for the veterans every day.”
Suicide is a very personal issue for Campbell. “My parents both met in the Army,” he said. “They have both passed away now, and they were both veterans. They were both affected by suicide by my brother, as well as they both tried to commit suicide as well. So the Be the One is very important to me.”
A display area was set up where groups could share information about their programs. Post 451’s group was placed in the area highlighting participants impacted by veteran and first responder suicides.
“People would walk up to us and ask us what was this about. What was our story, what were we promoting,” Campbell said. “And we would tell them about the Be the One and the (number) of veteran and military suicides a day.”
Having participated in the ASFP has opened the door for Post 451 participating – and possibly hosting – future Be the One events.
“We went as a group (to the walk) because we weren’t sure about what was going to be happening or anything,” Campbell said. “We did a lot of recon, and what we’re actually going to do and work on next year is we are going to do a Be the One walk in our (American Legion Department of Indiana) Third District, probably right here in Michigan City.”
- Be the One