Walk aims to raise break silence on suicide

Suicide is often described by experts as a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

People whose lives have been touched by suicide gathered Sunday morning in Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles for an eight-mile walk-a-thon to raise funds for Batavia-based Suicide Prevention Services, and to raise awareness that help is available.

"There is help. Don't be afraid to call somebody," said Liz Plywaczewski, 18, of St. Charles. "There are people who will listen."

Now an Elgin Community College student, Plywaczewski has lost four fellow students and one family member to suicide since her freshman year in high school.

"It's been tough," Plywaczewski said.

Many of the walkers wore yellow T-shirts for the Yellow Ribbon Walk for Life benefit. Many others wore shirts bearing the photo and name of Shaina Millhorn Ortiz, or Caitlyn Bailey, both suicide victims.

Bailey, a student at St. Charles East High School, died in 2005.

"We miss her deeply," said her uncle, Frank Bublitz of Lisle.

"We're just out here trying to raise awareness and break the silence," said Lisa Bublitz, the girl's aunt.

A significant portion of those who participated in the walk were in their teens or early 20s.

"Suicide just tears people apart," Frank Bublitz said. "Kids aren't even starting their lives and they're ending it."

Ortiz, also a St. Charles East student, died earlier this year.

"It was a complete shock. It came out of nowhere," said Ortiz's cousin, Kimberly Stuhr, of Belvidere.

Shaina Ortiz's stepfather, Mike Ortiz, said he was walking so that other parents would not have to share his experience.

"No parent wants to go through this," Ortiz said.

"She didn't have a bad day," he said of his stepdaughter. "She had a bad moment."

Suicide Prevention Services offers a comprehensive array of prevention and intervention programs, while also providing counseling and support to the families and friends of suicide victims.

Mari Wittum, clinical coordinator for Suicide Prevention Services, said that suicide is often an impulse.

"We can help somebody figure out what to do next," Wittum said. "It's about being able to make people feel comfortable to reach out so they can get through that impulse."