For the first time, Walla Walla has combined its annual suicide prevention and overdose awareness events into one day of community connection and reflection.
Bridges of Hope is an event hosted by Hope Street, a local addiction recovery home for women, and the Walla Walla County Department of Community Health.
Overdose Awareness Day is recognized globally each year on Aug. 31. Suicide Prevention Day follows on Sept. 10.
The memory wall served as a way to honor those whose lives have been lost to mental health or substance use, while also celebrating survivors.
“Substance use, suicide, mental health issues — those issues are very closely connected and intertwined,” said Alessandra Ramirez, behavioral health coordinator at the health department. “So last year after the Suicide Prevention Walk we just had the idea to partner, because it’s a lot for one entity to do this all by itself and we thought that combining them would pay respect to the fact that these are very interconnected issues.”
The two organizations partnered to host the first Bridges of Hope event on Thursday, Sept. 10, at Pioneer Park. Several mental health and addiction recovery focused organizations offered information about their resources during the event, including the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Celebrate Recovery program.
“You’ll notice that all of the booths are related to behavioral health — their ideal option is offering treatment — and we have suicide prevention resources and mental health resources,” Ramirez said.
Several participants also shared their stories and lived experiences, followed by a community walk, which typically happens downtown every year as the Suicide Prevention Walk.
Mental health crisis lines
The following are phone numbers that can be called or texted if you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis:
- National Suicide Prevention line: 988
- Veterans Crisis Line: 988 press 1
- Trevor Project (LGBTQ+): call 866-488-7386 or text 678678
- Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
- Crisis Text Line: Text “HEAL” to 741741. Young people of color and those from underserved communities can text “STEVE” to 741741.
Beside the gazebo, organizers put up a memory wall with photos of loved ones who had either died because of mental health or substance use, as well as photos of survivors who are in recovery.
Tacos La Monarca and Whitman Acres lemonade also offered free food and drink for those who attended.
The hosts plan to make Bridges of Hope an annual event and will need volunteers to serve as community speakers, guide the remembrance walk, host interactive booths or to be general event volunteers. Anyone who has questions or wants to participate can reach Ramirez at aramirez@wwcowa.gov.
“This is an opportunity to come together as a community and work collaboratively to bring forth the resources in the community,” Ramirez said.
Loryn Kykendall reports on health care and education. She can be reached at lkykendall@wwub.com.
