‘You’re not alone,’ Upcoming suicide awareness walk in Toronto aims to reduce stigma and create hope

An annual walk in the city aims to raise awareness around the stigma when talking about mental health and suicide.

The annual Walk for Suicide Awareness by the Distress Centres of Greater Toronto (DCGT) will be returning to Sunnyside Park on Sunday.

The event was created in hopes of beginning more conversations around suicide by reducing the stigma around it, reminding people they don’t have to face their grief alone.

The walk brings together people who are struggling, people who have lost loved ones to suicide, as well as people who are supporting them.

This year’s event comes with a name change.

Previously known as the Walk to End Suicide, Greg Kligman, who leads DCGT’s Survivor Support Program, told Now Toronto that the change to Walk for Suicide Awareness more accurately reflects its mission of suicide prevention and providing accessible crisis and emotional support.

“It’s intended to create hope, reduce stigma, encourage people to talk, encourage people to give and get support,” Kligman said.

He added that suicide grief can be isolating because of the existing stigma surrounding suicide, a lack of closure following a loss and feelings of guilt.

“Suicide grief is in fact one of the most highly stigmatized and loneliest types of grief,” Kligman said.

The walk is also serves as a fundraiser for DCGT and its programing, with any money raised put towards the organization’s crisis intervention, suicide prevention, postvention and mental-health resources.

Kligman said one of the biggest things he hopes people take away from the event is a sense of community, and feeling less alone.

According to Statistics Canada, a suicide happened every two hours in Canada, with about 12 Canadians dying by suicide each day. 

Kligman added that people tend to be afraid to ask someone straight up whether or not they’re having thoughts of ending their life. Although, he said it’s better practice to speak up.

“If you see somebody struggling, do something and say something,” Kligman said. “The worst thing we can do is just ignore it and hope it goes away.”

For people who are worried about someone, Kligman recommends talking to the person directly and making resources available, including calling or texting 988, Canada’s Suicide Crisis Helpline, or contacting the Toronto Distress Centre at 416-408-4357.

DCGT’s Survivor Support Program also provides peer support to people who have lost someone to suicide, with both individual and group options available.

Kligman agreed that suicide prevention needs to continue beyond a single event, adding that it was important to make resources more accessible.

For people who know someone grieving a suicide loss, Kligman said simply being present can make a difference.

He encourages people to check in, adding it is okay to use the name of the person who died with the loved one is probably already thinking of the name all the time.

He added to let your loved one know you are available to talk, while also letting them know there was no pressure on them to respond to any messages sent in their time of need.

For anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts or ideations, Kligman emphasized that help is available.

“You are not alone… You are a worthy human being who’s suffering, and it’s not your fault that you’re suffering,” he said. “You didn’t choose this despair and anguish… there are people who want to give you help.”

Sunday’s walk will follow a 4.7-kilometre path and begins at 9 a.m.