There’s a word so heavy, even social media censors it.
It’s a word that silences dinner tables, shatters families, and ripples through generations with invisible force.
That word is suicide — and in Western Oklahoma, we’re not afraid to say it out loud. Because saying it is the first step to stopping it. Behind every suicide is a story rarely told. Sometimes it starts with a single loss that no one knows how to talk about. Then come the years of struggle that follow — the loved ones who stop sleeping, the children who grow up carrying questions, the siblings who fight to get someone help and lose them anyway.
The grief doesn’t end with one funeral. It spreads. And here in rural Oklahoma, where resources are thin and stigma runs deep, the ripples have reached too far.
On Saturday, September 13, 2025, a community is taking a stand.
The Rays of Love Suicide Prevention and Recovery Awareness Walk will begin at 8:00 a.m. at the walking track near the Lighthouse at Ackley Park West in Elk City (pending city approval). The event is part of National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and National Recovery Month, and it’s built for anyone who has ever asked, “What more could I have done?”
And for anyone still asking: What can I do now?
The walk will feature a community remembrance activity, a mental health and recovery resource fair, and a safe space for healing conversations. Local families are encouraged to participate in creating remembrance projects — from posters and painted shirts to decorated signs — as a show of love and solidarity.
A growing list of partners has already committed to attending, including: - SWODA’s Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery team - Red Rock Behavioral Health Services - Veterans Affairs Suicide Prevention Team - Beckham County Health Department Additional invitations have been extended to local counselors, clinics, hospitals, churches, senior services, and others who can offer support and resources.
According to the CDC, over 17% of American adults report four or more Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), which include exposure to abuse, neglect, or a parent’s suicide. Those with high ACE scores face a significantly higher risk of depression, addiction, and suicide.
A 2022 study in Frontiers in Psychiatry revealed that family members who lose someone to suicide are three times more likely to die by suicide themselves. And a 2016 SAMHSA report shows that 22% of suicide deaths involve alcohol intoxication, and 20% involve opiates like heroin or prescription painkillers.
Event organizers are actively seeking sponsors to help cover the cost of T-shirts, water, bounce houses, and face painting for children. Businesses, churches, and individuals interested in contributing or volunteering are encouraged to reach out.
To register as a participant or vendor, or to learn more about the event, visit SWODA’s website at www.swoda. org.
For questions or sponsorship inquiries, contact De-Shawna Smyth at 580-5625039 or deshawna@swoda. org.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call or text 988 or go to the nearest emergency room.
