Hello, Alamo!
I wanted to write up a quick post about an event tomorrow that I think is important.
The Otero Humanists and the Otero Youth Empowerment Project are teaming up with a bunch of other organizations in this city to hold an event to kick off Suicide Prevention Awareness Month 2026.
Spencer Bond first came up with a concept for this event in July, shortly after our Pride event. He has been pretty open about the fact that suicide has touched his family, and he wanted to make sure he did something constructive with that grief. I think it’s pretty important to the both of us to make the people in this community feel important, cared for, and seen because everyone has inherent worth and they deserve to be reminded.
If exposure to resources. wellness activities, and community for the sake of community makes just one person look forward to their future, it’s worth it.
I was actually on the other side of an interview for Alamogordo Daily News this week. It was weird, and definitely a bit nerve-wracking, but neither of us sounded like a jackass! Yay!
What I was hoping to get across is that we wanted this event to be focused on people. So even though it doesn’t gloss over the reality of mental health and suicide, statistics, and professional resources, the sadness involved isn’t the sole focus.
I’ve known people who have attempted, but I can’t say suicide has touched my life personally. Occasional ideation maybe, but in my journey and I think plenty of people’s journeys, good mental health is made up of seeking out a handful of good things worth sticking around for: my partners, my pets, my family-chosen and biological, my community, the fight for the generations to come, etc.
I mentioned to Miles that my role was largely just someone for Spencer to bounce ideas off of, but treating suicide as something not just tragic but as something people have to either grieve or battle every day is a point that many of us on the planning committee agreed with. I hope this event accurately reflects that for the people who need it.
The event is tomorrow at Alameda Park, from 8am to 11am. It will include opening and closing ceremonies, testimonials, wellness activities like yoga, Tai chi, dance fitness, and journaling, crafts, games, and a suicide prevention walk starting at 9am. There will be food trucks in case anyone gets peckish, but beyond that, this event is completely free to the public.
I hope to see you there.
Salud.
No responses yet