Tampa Bay Marks World Suicide Prevention Day with Candlelight Vigil

An estimated 40,000 Americans commit suicide each year.

That number, according to organizers of the Tampa Bay Candlelight Vigil marking World Suicide Prevention Day, is unacceptable.

“I want people to know there’s help and hope out there,” explained Betsey Falvey Westuba, the chair of the Florida Suicide Prevention Coalition and executive director of the Suncoast Yellow Ribbon Project.

To make sure that message gets out loud and clear, the Carrollwood Cultural Center, the Suncoast Yellow Ribbon Project and the Tampa Bay Suicide Prevention Task Force are teaming up Wednesday night to stage a candlelight vigil. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. at the 4537 Lowell Road center and runs through 8:30. September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day.

The vigil is designed for adults and children age 13 and up, accompanied by an adult, Westuba said.

“What we’re trying to do is really encourage coping skills and resiliency within the community,” she said. “There are people out there with suicidal thoughts. We can come together as a community and provide support.”

Westuba said she is especially trying to reach out to youth at this year’s event.

“(We want to) encourage youth to come forward and understand that we’re there for them.”

In addition to the vigil, the event features verbal presentations, a hands-on art activity focusing on hope, refreshments and reference materials. The vigil starts at 8 p.m.

Westuba said there are resources in the Bay area for people who are battling depression or loved ones who fear a person might be contemplating suicide. They include:

• The 211 hotline in Tampa Bay that connects people to assistance with a variety of issues
• Suncoast Kid’s Place, which provides support for children who have faced a loss
• The Florida Suicide Prevention Coalition
• The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255

To register for Wednesday’s event, visit the vigil’s signup page on Eventbrite.com.

Photo Credit: Patch File Photo