It is a subject that is often avoided because it is difficult to talk about. Yet, it remains the second leading cause of death for young adults aged 15-34. Last year alone, nearly 49,000 families in America lost a loved one to it. And it’s time to have the conversations.

According to the latest statistics from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 5.5 percent of U.S. adults have serious thoughts of suicide each year. To help raise awareness and initiate discussion that could potentially help those struggling with such thoughts, the month of September is set aside each year as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Senior Living Solutions at Callaway District Hospital promotes the awareness campaign each fall by hosting a walk/ ride event designed to bring community members together and share information about suicide prevention.

This year’s event was held on Saturday, Sept. 17, but due to weather was relocated from Morgan Park to the Community Center. For 90 minutes people walked, conversed, and enjoyed a free lunch, with the hope of working toward erasing the stigma of mental illness that so often leads to suicide.

“We were very pleased with the turnout. Some people walked outside and inside. The Callaway Good Life Center brought residents in a golf cart,” shared Janel Brestel, Office Patient Coordinator for Senior Life Solutions. “We thank all those who came out to help raise awareness and to show support for those affected by suicide and mental health struggles!”

No family or community is immune to the devastating effects of mental health battles and the potential consequences that come with them. Margaret Cheaves was only 18-years-old when she gave in to the dark thoughts that her family now believes she had struggled with for quite some time. Her younger sister, Misty, vividly recalls that tragic day in April 1996, and 30 years later, she continues to advocate for people with mental health issues.

“I was 15, and I thought my sister was amazing. She was the strongest bad-ass I knew. It was a complete surprise, and it completely changed my life and how I thought the world was,” Misty shared.

That awful experience, Misty said, changed the way she views the people around her - and not in a negative way. “How it’s affected my life is that now I think maybe if I can say some kind word to people, it might help somebody, because you never know what they are going through.”

She shared that her sister had been involved in a car accident in Lincoln about a month before her death and was dealing with some legal issues from that. “She had to come back home. That’s the backstory that I think really broke her,” said Misty. “She was writing a lot then, and had talked about a professor she had who had committed suicide. So she had brought it up, but we didn’t even think about it.

The next day, my mom asked me if I had seen Margaret but I really didn’t think much about it. I thought maybe she had just gone down under the bridge where we all went to hang out, just to chill out - so I just went upstairs. About an hour later I heard my mom scream a scream that I can’t even describe. She had just found out her daughter had passed away.”

In the small community of Callaway, word traveled quickly, but Misty said that was a positive thing. “The town just came together. Callaway is just an amazing community,” she said.

In the aftermath of losing her sister, Misty said she is now so much more aware of mental illness and its impact. “I struggle with mental illness issues too, and there are times when I feel guilty because I get the help I need and she didn’t. But I get the help I need because of her,” she shared.

The one thing Misty emphasizes most is acceptance. “We need to accept people the way they are. You don’t have to understand it, but you have to accept it. Sometimes it’s life or death,” Misty said.

Misty said there were signs of Margaret’s illness that she now recognizes. “She was drinking a lot, staying in her room for days, talking about people who had committed suicide. And there were just a lot of things going wrong in her life. To me, my sister was strong and had no fear. But you just don’t ever know.”

Like many others, Misty is encouraged by the progress that has been made toward bringing more awareness to mental illness. “With time comes change,” she said. “And I think the next generation is getting even better at recognizing issues and taking care of it.”

To help raise awareness for the next generation, Callaway Public Schools in partnership with Sumner-Eddyville-Miller Public Schools hosted a special event in Callaway on Tuesday, Sept. 22. Students in grades 7-12 from the two schools gathered for a joint showing of the documentary film 'My Ascension'.

“This is a powerful film which focuses on mental health, suicide prevention, hope, resilience, and the importance of reaching out for help. The film has been shown on PBS and used by other school districts in Nebraska,” explained CPS Guidance Counselor Denise Sughayar.

After watching the film some small group discussions were held with students and teachers, led by counselors/ mental health specialists from both schools, ESU10, Buffalo County Community Partners, UNK, Children's Hospital, and other local organizations.

Being educated on the subject of mental illness and its consequences leads to conversations, and conversations lead to change. The bottom line is, be aware and just be kind - to yourself and to others.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or need support,call or text 988, the nationwide three-digit number for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7 in the U.S.

Members of the Callaway Senior Life Solutions team Kelly Herbig, RN/Program Director (left), and Janel Brestel, Office Patient Coordinator, hosted a suicide awareness event in the Callaway Community Center on Saturday, Sept. 17. (Photo courtesy Janel Brestel)