Friends' joint efforts raise suicide awareness in Cape Girardeau

There may be a million reasons people become friends. For Laura Matlock and Jennifer Cagle-Huffman, a bond has formed from a shared feeling. Both women cope daily with grief over losing someone they loved to suicide.

On Saturday, the women hope to help others cope and raise awareness of suicide with a walk at Cape County Park North in Cape Girardeau.

Matlock lost her only brother, Gary Jr., in January. He was 36 and had three children.

"It was and is the most horrible thing my family has ever gone through," she said. "While he had his share of problems, his death still came as a shock. There are so many questions left we'll never get answers to."

In the months after his death, Matlock began looking for a way to connect with local people for the emotional support she needed. She also wanted to find a way to teach others to look for suicide's warning signs and to promote prevention in the community.

Online Matlock found the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, a national not-for-profit organization that works to prevent suicide through research, education and advocacy. The foundation also provides resources to people seeking help after losing someone to suicide. One way the foundation raises money is through Out of the Darkness Community Walks. According to the foundation's website, walks will take place in more than 200 communities across the country this fall.

Matlock decided to organize a walk in Cape Girardeau in hopes that some of the money raised could eventually help fund the establishment of a foundation chapter. The money is raised by teams who sign up to participate and ask for donations, and also comes from donations from sponsors of the walks. It is split between the national foundation and local organizers.

Matlock set a $10,000 goal for the walk, and initially expected about 50 people to participate, she said. As of Thursday, 146 people were signed up, and the $10,000 goal was exceeded by more than $700.

She organized the walk through personal connections by presenting to community organizations and through Facebook. On Facebook she began having conversations with Cagle-Huffman, who signed up for the walk.

Cagle-Huffman's mother committed suicide 13 years ago.

"Finally I have met someone who has been through the same situation I was in," Cagle-Huffman said of Matlock. "When you lose someone from suicide, you feel really alone."

The women drove to Crystal City, Mo., for a suicide prevention conference at Jefferson Memorial Hospital, where they met other survivors and spent a day in classes. They also hosted a fundraiser in September for suicide prevention and awareness at Schock's Pub in Scott City.

Cagle-Huffman said the opportunity to participate in the walk has provided a way for her to make an impact on suicide prevention after many years of searching.

Matlock said attempting to spread suicide prevention and awareness to Southeast Missouri is her mission.

"I've thought, if I couldn't help my brother, maybe I can help somebody else," she said.

Cape Girardeau County Coroner John Clifton said there have been 18 suicides in the county in 2011. The total for 2010 was 19. The most recent available statistics on suicide in Missouri from the Department of Health and Senior Services show two people die from suicide every day and that Missouri's suicide rate, which is 12.9 people out of every 100,000, is the highest among Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska.

Registration for the walk is open and free. Participants can register at www.afsp.org, or can sign up from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday. The walk begins at 11. There will be a balloon release to honor the memories of those lost to suicide following the walk. The walk is sponsored by Tipton Linen, Southeast Health and Procter & Gamble.

eragan@semissourian.com

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