09 Aug 2018 Hundreds of people are expected to join together to remember those lost to suicide by taking part in Lifeline WA’s Out of the Shadows walk. The free event will be held on September 8 in Kings Park in the lead up to World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10). Lifeline WA Chief Executive Officer Lorna MacGregor said the walk united people from different backgrounds and communities, and was an opportunity for people touched by suicide to come together. “We would encourage anyone who has been affected by the death of a loved one through suicide to take part in this event,” she said. “We hope the walk will give them the opportunity to remember their loved ones and to take some comfort in being surrounded by others who have been affected by suicide,” she said. Ms MacGregor said as well as offering people support, the walk was also a chance to help reduce the stigma associated with suicide and mental illness. “The Out of the Shadows walk is about getting people together to talk and learn about suicide,” she said. “It is tragic that 85% of Australians know someone who has died by suicide. “371 West Australians died by suicide in 2016, and research shows that for every person that dies, 135 people are impacted by their death. “Lifeline WA believes it’s important to give those people the opportunity to support each other so that they know they are not alone.” The Out of the Shadows campaign was launched by Ros Worthington, who lost her husband to suicide in 2002. “When I lost my husband, there was really nothing there for people who had lost loved ones to suicide to come together and grieve,” she said. “As we walk Out of the Shadows and into the Light, honouring our loved ones by walking together as a group and holding a candle, we each feel a little more healing happens.” The symbolic walk is now being held in 45 Lifeline centres across Australia. The Perth event will be in Kings Park from 5am to 7am on September 8, starting at the Wadjuk carpark. There will be a ceremony at Roe Garden before a walk through the gardens to emerge at the War Memorial as the sun rises over the city. Back To News Stories