COMMUNITY members took to the streets of Armidale to help raise awareness for suicide on Thursday.
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Coinciding with World Suicide Prevention Day and RU OK Day, the Out of the Shows Into the Light Walk focused on promoting suicide prevention in the community.
Walk organiser and RichmondPRA Armidale manager Jannelle Brandley said the event was a great success for the city, with more than 130 people joining in.
“We hope the event grows, but not because suicide increases, because we get better at preventing it,” Ms Brandley said.
“Particularly what we did notice was the increase of people from rural communities in attendance.”
The group walked from Mallam House to Central Park, where a small ceremony took place.
Ms Brandley said the not-for-profit organisation uses the event to promote awareness of suicide and to open the door of communication for people contemplating self-harm.
“It’s about coming together on this issue and how to look out for one another,” she said.
Attendees were invited to sign a ceremonial memory book before attending a smoking ceremony at Mallam House.
Ms Brandley said the smoking ceremony was very important part of the day’s festivities.
“It’s important for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people to come together especially on an issue like suicide,” she said.