Posted: 4:54 pm EDT October 10, 2010Updated: 6:48 pm EDT October 10, 2010
ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- They walked to remember, and they walked to prevent. The Lehigh Parkway became a safe space Sunday to talk openly about a topic often taboo. Each step was a symbolic move away from the stigma surrounding suicide. "Great kid, great personality, loved to laugh, always smiling," said Robert Woolley of Wilson. The way Woolley describes his 19-year-old brother, Keith, makes it hard to believe Keith took his own life earlier this year. "I mean if you look back, maybe there were some things there, but subtle," Woolley added. The pictures of Andy Loiacano's son, Nathan, tell a story with another surprise ending. "He was 23, lost to suicide," said Loiacano. "Nathan had some issues with depression, anxieties, but we didn't see it coming," he added. Family members said it's tough to talk about such a tragedy, but it's necessary. "So that people who are struggling aren't afraid anymore to take that next step into getting treatments," said Beth Petrow of Nazareth. Just this year, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention formed a chapter in the Lehigh Valley. Their goal is to capture the resources and support of today and make it accessible year-round. "It's for all age groups," said Loiacano. "It's for people who have lost someone to suicide. We're reaching out to schools and institutions, anywhere that we can," he added. For those who have been touched by suicide, they say hindsight is not 20/20, but they do have advice. "Probably my best advice to parents would be to listen to their children and to help them in any way they can," Loiacano said. "Friends might be the ones that can help the most opposed to the family because they talk more with friends than they do family and that's our case," added Woolley. In all cases, they say open lines of communication can save lives. Copyright 2010 WFMZ. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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