Out of the Darkness Walk: A way of helping bring the topic of suicide to light

WEST JORDAN — It can be difficult to get large groups of people to agree on almost anything these days.

But the nearly 4,000 people who visited Veterans Memorial Park in West Jordan Saturday morning agreed it still hurts.

"Oh, definitely," said Kathy Kirby.

There is no doubt Kirby misses her son Ryland Hosenfeld.

He died two years ago after taking his own life.

"Ryland suffered with depression and some chronic headaches. The headaches wouldn't go away," she said. "It just kind of got to a point where, just, yeah, he was just in too much pain, and I think that was just the only way he could see a way out."

He was just 25 years old.

Talking is important

Kirby remembers feeling so alone at the time, but at the West Jordan park, she knows she's not alone.

That's because everyone at the park has a similar story.

"It is awkward, right? Nobody wants to talk about suicide until it is too late," said Catina Struble, executive director of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Talking about suicide, though, is important.

It's why Struble helped organize this event, the Out of the Darkness Walk, to help bring a tough topic into the light.

"We have to talk about it," she said. "It is as simple as, if you think somebody is even contemplating suicide, just ask them, 'Are you thinking about suicide?'"

Struble said the person will either say "no" or "yes."

Either way, Struble believes just checking in with someone can help, and if the answer is "yes," there are a lot of ways to go forward.

'Help is out there'

"Call us. Call 988. Get ahold of somebody. There is help out there. Suicide is preventable," Struble said.

Suicide also hurts those people who victims leave behind.

"It is going to have a huge effect. Like, look at all these people who have been affected," said Jaden Schmidt.

Schmidt is Ryland's girlfriend and walked with his family and is still friendly with them because she misses him deeply.

"It feels like you get to keep a piece of him again," Schmidt said.

That is also another reason why these walks are so important.

In a way, it keeps their loved ones alive.

"We will never, ever, ever forget Ryland," said his mother. "But we feel like he is here today."

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