SPAN invited the community to walk together around the Old Bega Racecourse track on Saturday. It was the first time the annual event has been held on the weekend.

The result was a smaller crowd than expected, but the more intimate group size created an atmosphere of togetherness as attendees shared their experience and support with each other. 

Bonnie Hull attended the event with parents Jane and Peter in memory of her sister, Courtney. Bonnie said the Walk With Us event helped to break down the stigma of suicide, especially among young people. 

“I was only 15 when Courtney died, and at the time there was nothing like this for me to turn to,” she said.

“I think for teens, it’s not easy to find people in a similar situation, so it becomes really hard to talk about.”

Bonnie saw first hand how her friends and schoolmates struggled to come to terms with the death of her sister.

“When I went back to school after Courtney’s death, I thought I would be overwhelmed with condolences, but I found the opposite, people actually avoided and bullied me,” she said.  

Bonnie now understands the negative reaction from her schoolmates was because of the stigma that still looms around suicide. 

“They didn’t know how to react, it made me embarrassed to talk about what happened, and I know people were embarrassed to talk to me as well,” she said. 

Bonnie believes the stigma of suicide stands in the way of prevention and healing. 

“I spent so much time worrying about how my presence made other people feel that I stalled my own healing,” she said.

But with the development of SPAN and the rollout of Headspace due mid next year, Bonnie believes young people now have better resources to deal with mental health issues. 

Guest speakers addressed the crowd, including SPAN members Glenn Cotter and Tracey Escreet. SPAN chairwoman Liz Seckold said the Walk With Us event promotes positive mental health messages and lets people know it is OK to ask for help.