Brian Hagberg
WARREN, Pa. – Tragedy affects people in different ways. For some, it becomes something they never truly recover from.
But for others, like a group of Warren Area High School students, it leads them to be inspired to help prevent others from suffering a future tragedy.
The WAHS Class of 2025 Officers are planning the inaugural Suicide Awareness Walk after losing two of their peers to suicide within days of each other in December. The Walk is set to begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 22 at Betts Park.
UPDATE, 9 a.m. May 20, 2022: Due to forecasted severe weather, the Walk has been moved from Betts Park to the Warren High cafeteria.
“We were like, ‘We need to do something,’” Class Co-President Ella Getner said. “And we were thinking of a bunch of different ideas. We wanted to do something that could be every year and get people involved. And I don’t know who said it but we all just kind of were like let’s do a walk.”
The idea built slowly until the day mental health speaker Jeff Yaldon came to WAHS and inspired the group to put their plan into action.
“The day that Jeff Yaldon came, that was like the designated day that we were like, ‘Okay, this walk is happening. We have to figure this out,’” Class Co-President Sophie Walker said.
The idea also garnered support from a local mental health advocate.
“When we were talking with (WAHS Principal) Mr. (Jeff) Flickner, Kari Swanson was there and she was impressed with the idea,” Getner said. “So she and CORE (Choosing Openness Regarding Experiences) were our first sponsor.”
While CORE has been working with students through multiple events over the last few years, Swanson (CORE’s founder) was particularly impressed with the way these students have responded to the loss of their peers.
“They took tragic situations and have attempted to come together to spread awareness of mental health and suicide prevention,” Swanson said. “I have been inspired by this group of youth and also the youth from (Eisenhower) who have done the same thing in coming together to arm themselves and their peers with knowledge and encouraging having open discussions of how they feel. I am so happy to see groups of youth that have such an impact on others helping to make a difference with mental health awareness and suicide prevention education.”
With the decision made to hold an awareness walk, the group embarked on a whole new journey. How to plan and execute an event of this magnitude.
“The planning process was definitely a learning experience,” Class Vice President Anna Courson said. “And I think for most of us, it’s definitely new. But we’ve had a lot of help from different adults, such as CORE, (Class Adviser) Mrs. (Amy) Rossman and Mr. Flickner. They’ve all helped us in different ways.”
The group has been encouraged by the willingness of local businesses and individuals to support their event. Even as the students are taking ownership of something adults in the community have neglected.
“I think especially after the events that happened at our school, we all as a group realized that you know, not to call out the city, but we don’t really do enough to bring awareness to it,” Courson said.
Though the event is still more than a month away, it’s already impacting some of those in the community who have dealt directly with suicide. The same day the officers spoke with Your Daily Local, they received a $300 donation from a community member who lost a brother to suicide.
The letter that accompanied the donation read:
“Dear 2025 officers, here’s a donation towards your suicide walk project. I had a brother who committed suicide many years ago and it really leaves everyone in great shock and many other emotions. Best wishes on your project, hope in some way a suicide is prevented.”
“I think that with suicide there’s this helpless, hopeless feeling,” Rossman said. “It’s so emotional for so many people, but it’s that ‘I want to do something and I couldn’t prevent that. So let’s try to prevent something, you know, another tragedy from happening.’ So the response has been unbelievable.”
While the walk itself is the primary focus, the event will feature vendors, food trucks, and music. Representatives from CORE, Family Services of Warren County, Riverside Counseling, and Beacon Light will be on hand to explain how their services work.
The group has collaborated with other students across the county to be on-hand as well. In fact, Eisenhower freshman Alyssa Wismar will be performing as a soloist during the event.
The idea is for the event to be a place not just where people can go to reflect, but to also bring positivity and potentially prevent future tragedies.
“It’s not just a somber event,” Rossman said.
“If we save just one person, we just did what I want to do,” Getner said.
All the officers were surprised by the number of businesses, organizations, and individuals who wanted to sponsor the event.
“I feel like everyone inside really wants to do something (but) they just talk about it and then they don’t end up doing anything about it,” Class Secretary Charlotte Keeports said. “So I feel like with this, they were like, ‘Oh my gosh, yes. This is a chance for us.’”
The class officers are still accepting sponsorships, though time is running out for new sponsors to be added to the T-shirt that will be available at the event. Anyone wishing to sponsor the event should contact the officers via email at [email protected].
The group plans to open registration for participants soon as well. Registration is not required, but those who do register for the event will be able to get the T-shirt at a reduced price.
“CORE is happy to help any group of young people who want to make a difference and will collaborate in any way able,” Swanson said. “I think the collaboration of all these people with one goal will help make our community stronger.”
And bringing the community together is one of the group’s main goals.
“When it happened, my mom wouldn’t let me stay home. I wasn’t allowed to stay home alone,” Sophomore Class Representative Lillyann Hokel said. “I had to be around somebody and I have to say that it helped a lot. And that bringing people together in a community could help others. Because as much as you’d want to be alone. It’s really not good for you.”
