Suicide walk prompts call for Toti support group
The purpose is to offer survivors a way to honour loved ones lost to suicide.
The ninth annual suicide remembrance and awareness walk takes place on Durban’s promenade on Saturday, 11 September to commemorate World Suicide Prevention Day, which is on 10 September.
The purpose of the walk is to create more awareness and offer survivors a way to honour their loved ones, whom they’ve lost to suicide.
Toti’s Paula Veale, who lost her daughter Amy to suicide in 2008, will participate in the walk and urges other Toti’ites who have lost loved ones to join in. “There are a lot of suicides in Toti and we want people to be aware of that,” said Paula. “The walk is a chance to share with others who have been through the same. People don’t understand what it’s like unless they have gone through it. At previous walks, we bought a balloon, put a message in and released it.”
This year messages to lost loved ones will be etched onto pebbles and walkers will walk throw these into the sea from the pier.
Meet at Durban View Park from 8.30am for 9am. There will be free registration packs available. These include a yellow ribbon, survivors of suicide materials and resources, South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) materials and resources and a pebble for you to write a message to your lost loved one.
A donation of at least R30 is asked to cover costs. Walkers can stay and enjoy tea or coffee after.
For more information about the suicide remembrance and awareness walk, contact Tshego on 011-234-4837. Paula is keen to start a group for survivors of suicide in Toti. Call her on 079-112-5394 or Tamica on 082-653-3840 (after hours).
