This week is National Suicide Awareness Week. Every year more than 300 Minnesotans die by suicide and the numbers are rising. The biggest challenge to reducing suicide is the stigma that is attached to it. We can’t win a battle that no one wants to talk about. There are many myths and misunderstandings about depression and suicide, and making suicide easier to talk about can help.

The AFSP and S.O.S. (Survivors of Suicide support group) is sponsoring the second annual Community Walk on Saturday, Sept. 19, at Silver Lake in Rochester. The purpose of the walk is to raise awareness of depression and suicide, and to raise funds for research (many research grants are provided to Mayo Clinic by the AFSP), to train physicians on how to recognize and treat severe depression, to provide public education, and to give support to those who have lost a loved one to suicide. Last year more than $24,000 was raised for the Rochester Community Walk, and some of the money is being used in southeastern Minnesota to provide videos to high school students and teachers to help recognize the signs of depression and how to take action to prevent suicide.

I would also like to mention that there are two support groups in our region. S.O.S. of Rochester, which meets the third Thursday of each month at Evangel United Methodist Church on North Broadway, Rochester, and S.O.S. of Owatonna which meets at the Owatonna Public Library on the first Monday of each month. Information for either group can be obtained from me at (507) 456-3073.

We would appreciate the support of the Albert Lea Tribune in recognition of National Suicide Awareness Week, the Community Walk on Sept. 19, and the monthly support group for suicide survivors.

For questions on the walk or for help with registering or sponsoring a walker, contact me at (507) 456-3073 or online at RememberBrian@gmail.com.

Additional information is available through the American Foundation For Suicide Prevention. Its Web site is www.afsp.org.

I am the proud mother of Pfc. Brian M. Williams, “Combat Will,” who died Jan. 8, 2007 in Albert Lea, while home on leave from Iraq.

Connie Scott

Owatonna