The Tyler Out of the Darkness Wall has multiple signatures. (Raquel Villatoro/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

On a gray, cloudy Saturday morning, people gathered at Patriot Plaza at UT Tyler wearing shirts with the names or pictures of loved ones for the Out of the Darkness Walk, an event for suicide awareness.

Many families, supporters and mental health advocates came out in support of the event. The annual event is organized by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

AFSP invests $35 million in research, education, awareness and prevention. In addition they do advocacy for statewide and federal policy. Through the walk the North Texas chapter reaches 200,000 people, according to Ryan Newcomb, Executive Director of the North Texas Chapter of American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

“We really believe that by showing up, we are being the voice for those that do not have one,” Newcomb said. “We’re being (a) voice to also say that suicide awareness is important and that there’s always hope. There’s always help available to people that are struggling.”

Some wore beads to denote their support and relationship to a loved one who died by suicide or struggles with suicide. There were beads in red, silver, blue, green, yellow, multicolored, white and teal. They represented losses of loved ones such as spouses, kids, siblings along with the loss of veterans. Other colors represented someone having a personal struggle, has a loved one who struggles, or someone who was simply supporting the cause.

The LGBTQ+ community faces higher rates of suicide. Trans people are nine to 10 times more likely to attempt suicide and higher rates of suicidal ideation than the average population, according to Newcomb.

In the United States, 22 veterans and active service members a day are lost to suicide, Newcomb said.

“When someone is in crisis, it is so important that their safety net, the people around them, removes access to lethal means, especially firearms, and gets those to a safe location while they are in crisis, and until they are better,” Newcomb said. “It is up to the people around them in our communities to help make that happen, but removing access to lethal means during crisis is the No. 1 thing that can stop suicide.”

As participants walked through the UT Tyler campus, volunteers held up signs sharing messages of encouragement.

UT Tyler communications freshmen Joselyn Gonzalez, 19, decided to volunteer because suicide prevention is personal to her.

“(It) matters a lot to me because I went through my personal struggles and I know so many people who struggle as well,” Gonzalez said.

The first time Gonzalez came to the walk, she was in middle school. At the time, she was struggling, but the walk impacted her positively.

“I felt more hopeful,” Gonzalez said. “And I was like, yeah, I’m gonna keep pushing (and) see how it goes.”

Now, Gonzalez advocates for suicide prevention. Looking back, she believes if her middle school self saw her now she would say, “She’s so cool,” Gonzalez said.

UT Tyler nursing junior Emely Guevara, 19, heard about the walk from Gonzalez. For Guevara, the walk hits close to home because of her own personal mental health struggles and those of her family. She hopes people know “they’re not alone.”

“(Mental health) is still something that can be heard, that we are not alone, and to actually appreciate that we are still here and we’re still surviving,” Guevara said.

Guevara wore teal beads which represent family or friends of those with mental health conditions. She wore them for her sister who has anxiety and depression. When she notices her sister is down, she tries to let her know she is not alone.

After attending the walk, Guevara feels inspired and more hopeful.

“When people do stuff like this, it makes me feel much better inside,” Guevara said. “Letting me know that I’m also not alone.”

First time-attendee Juan Cruz, 26, came with his wife, sister and two kids because he wanted to start the self-healing process after losing two close friends. Throughout the walk, he talked to multiple people and realized he is not alone.

“It’s been a great experience,” Cruz said. “(I) met a lot of great people today, and was able to talk with a lot of people and get a lot of relief and knowing that I’m not really alone for as long as I thought I was.”

Cruz lost his friend Leonardo Manuel Renteria in 2020. He hopes people who are having thoughts of suicide reach out for help.

“It’s hard. I know it is,” Cruz said. “But as long as you just put one foot in front of the other, get out and actually attempt to let people in, you’ll find the hope; you really will.”

UT Tyler English major Hope Duncan volunteered because she wanted people to know there is help out there. Duncan, who is an intern at the Andrews Center, has learned there are resources available for mental health. However, many people do not know they are available.

“I feel like a lot of people don’t realize that they have a community that’s willing to help,” Duncan said. “They’re scared to speak up on things. They’re scared (of) judgment … And so a lot of people don’t look for help.”

As Duncan held her sign with the words “Be the Sunshine,” people of all ages and even dogs walked past her. She enjoyed seeing other attendees and said it was a positive experience.

“We all want to have a community where we all feel welcomed and loved and cared about,” Duncan said.