West Texas Counseling and Guidance is gearing up for the 10th annual Shine A Light event, in loving memory of Lezlie Dempsey Culver. This free community event aims to raise awareness of suicide and to pay tribute to those lost to it.
What makes Shine A Light so meaningful and impactful is the space it creates for survivors, who have lost someone to suicide, to come together and be among others who understand the unique complexities of grief that accompany loss to suicide, and to honor their loved ones.
Each year, one by one, survivors step up to the microphone and state the name of the person they lost. They may even share a little bit about their loved one.
Shine A Light is one bright example of the strength in community that exists in San Angelo.
It’s a moment of courage and vulnerability, and it’s deeply moving.
It is a very powerful thing to be a part of – a reminder that we are not alone. The opportunity to acknowledge your loved one in this way is rare, because suicide is a topic often met with silence or overwhelming discomfort by those who don’t understand.
After a speech and reading of the names, attendees are welcomed to join their peers on a walk along the river, where lanterns are placed in honor of those we have lost – those we will never forget.
The need for this event continues to grow, with Tom Green County’s suicides exceeding state averages.
West Texas Counseling and Guidance is leading the charge for suicide awareness, prevention, and support for survivors through their Zero Suicide Program.
Through this program, and with help from dedicated volunteers, the agency provides support around the clock, including crisis appointments, peer support for survivors, and trainings for local organizations on suicide prevention, through the Suicide Prevention Coalition.
While we face undeniably difficult challenges, we don’t always have to do it alone.
West Texas Counseling and Guidance partners with agencies in the area to provide a wide range of services, with the understanding that mental health does not exist in a vacuum: people often have other needs as well, such as housing, employment assistance, or safety planning.
WTCG also emphasizes the importance of working together as a community to meet those needs, in an effort to ensure nobody is falling through cracks in the system.
Source: https://www.sanangelocounseling.org/zero-suicide
This event begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, at the San Angelo Visitor’s Center, 418 W. Ave. B.
