Photos by Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette People take part in the sixth annual Suicide Prevention Walk, put on by Houghton-Keweenaw Communities That Care. At right, painted rocks show inspirational messages.

Michelle Morgan, a member of the grassroots organization Keweenaw Support for Healthy Minds, delivers the keynote address at the Families of the 906 Suicide Prevention Walk and Picnic.

painted rocks show inspirational messages.

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette
People take part in the sixth annual Suicide Prevention Walk, put on by Houghton-Keweenaw Communities That Care.

But because of the stigma surrounding it, many people have been hesitant to talk about it.

For Michelle Morgan, the keynote speaker at Saturday’s event, the person was a college dormmate, Margaret, who from the outside had seemed to have everything going for her.

Morgan led the crowd in an exercise: “Say their name.”

In unison, people said the name of the person they were walking for. As they walked, they also hoisted signs and banners bringing the issue and messages of hope to the forefront.

This year was the sixth annual Families of the 906 Suicide Prevention Walk and Picnic, held on World Suicide Prevention Day.

The event was organized by the Communities That Care Coalition, a program of Dial Help that works to empower local youth and reduce rates of substance abuse, depression and other problems. An important focus of the CTC is spreading awareness about suicide and dealing with the stigma around it, said CTC coordinator Callisto Cortez.

This year’s event added a picnic in line with the family theme.

“In our community and in the U.P., we’ve been so rocked by suicide the last few years, and especially with youth, that’s been so hard for us to deal and cope with,” Cortez said. “…We want people to know that we’re a family, we’re a community, and we want to be here for you.”

Part of the event is drawing awareness to the resources CTC, Dial Help and the local community have to offer.

People in need can reach out to crisis specialists at Dial Help by calling its hotline at 906-482-HELP or 800-562-7622, or by text message at 35NEEDS (906-356-3337).

“Sometimes people just need to hear that voice that validates them in their feelings, and brings them back down,” Cortez said.

Saturday’s event also offered tools to help address suicide, such as resources about youth coping skills or overdose awareness, as well as items like gun locks.

There were also craft sections where people painted rocks with encouraging messages such as “The world is better with you in it!” and “Your life is not yet finished.”

One of those painters was Mackenzie Baccus of Laurium. She began struggling with suicidal thoughts in sixth grade.

“They told me that many people would miss me, and they put me in therapy,” she said. “Over the course of the year, I realized a lot of people would miss me.”

Baccus uses art and poems to keep herself motivated and also to help others.

Tammy Hollon of L’Anse walked in honor of her son Justin, who died by suicide in 2013. She’s gone to similar events in L’Anse. They’re good ways to draw attention to the issue, she said.

“It tells people that there is help, to call somebody,” she said. “They’re too young. They think there’s no help, but there is. They’ve got to work through it.”

For more information about local resources, go to houghtonkeweenawctc.com.