Community gathers for suicide awareness walk in Snow Hill

SNOW HILL, Md. – One day, your loved one is there, right beside you. Then the next, they’re gone. That is the reality that Isha Redding faced, just three years ago.

“My husband was in the military, and he was also as Eastern Correctional Institution officer at one point. He also did security for the Wicomico County Detention center, and he became very depressed, and on September 24th, 2020, he took his life,” Redding said.

Since her husband’s passing, Redding has made it her mission to touch the lives of those battling with depression, and carry Ronald Redding’s name with her, throughout her journey.

“People may look alright on the outside, and pretend they’re OK, but deep down inside, they’re not. We need to be able to help them get through their dark time,” Redding said.

To carry the sentiment, Redding, along with over 60 other community members, participated in the Out of the Darkness Walk- an initiative that event organizer, Mike Trader, said can give other families impacted by suicide, the opportunity to show up for each other.

“Everybody’s story is a little bit different, so it’s meaningful to be able to come out here, together, to share each other’s stories and to support each other as a community,” Trader said.

The walk helped raise over $15,000 for the American Society of Suicide Prevention, and some of those funds funnel back into Delmarva.

“That does come right back here, to this community, and helps fund different trainings, like Mental Health First Aid trainings, to help educate our community on what to look for and how to help folks who might be struggling and might be having suicidal thoughts,” Trader said.

While the fight for hope continues, Redding wants people to know that even in the darkest times, there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel.

“You’re not in it by yourself,” Redding said. “We’re all in this together, and I want them to get the help. If you’re out there, please get the help.”