Bronx Suicide Prevention Walk Brings Community Together at Lehman

More than 200 Bronx residents came together at Lehman College on Sunday to honor those lost to suicide and to walk united in the fight to prevent it.

Underneath a bright September sun, residents wept, embraced one another, laughed while sharing stories of their loved ones, and found comfort in the company of others who understood their grief. 

The 2.2-mile walk around the Jerome Park Reservoir was sponsored by New York City’s chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, AFSP, a nationwide organization that funds research and advocacy for mental health.

 It was a part of AFSP’s greater movement, Out of the Darkness Walks, a fundraising series making its way across the country. AFSP and other cosponsors sat at several different booths in Lehman’s parking lot, offering mental health resources, as well as water and raffle prizes before the walk began. 

In 2022, 90 Bronxites took their own lives — the highest total in a decade, according to the NYC Department of Health. 

“Mental health touches everyone,” Candace Bravo, AFSP executive director, said. “Today is all about spreading awareness about suicide prevention, letting people know about AFSP resources, bringing people together in hope and honoring those we’ve lost.” 

Attendees wrote messages to post on a board, reading “Never to be forgotten,” “We hear you. We see you. You Matter,” and “Sigue pa lante,” which translates to “Keep moving forward.” 

One walker, 26-year-old Jared Pineda, survived a suicide attempt in March 2024. He said his faith in God and trust there was a higher power looking out for him was a lifeline. 

“I jumped in front of a train,” he told The Press. “I spent four months at Saint Barnabas Hospital and had multiple surgeries on my hips and femur. You won’t believe it, but my entire face is reconstructed. The doctors weren’t sure if I was going to be able to walk or see … I’m here. I’m walking.” 

Participants carried signs reading “Why I walk,” each with a blank space to handwrite personal motivations. 

One said, “For those who couldn’t,” another “Because you matter.” 

Rayna Guadalupe, a Lehman student, wrote “For my friends who were unable to see how precious their lives were.” Her peers, Joshua and Ephraim, were both in their early 20s when they passed. 

Joshua and Guadalupe lived across the street from each other nearly their whole lives, crossing paths when she was 5 and he was 7. 

“My dad was taking us to school that day, and I said, ‘Who is this boy in the car,’” she said with a soft laugh. “I was like, ‘Don’t look at me.’ 

She continued, “His energy was unmatched. You wanted to be around him. He didn’t let anybody tell him what to do. He was his own person.” 

Ephraim was the life of the party. “Always dancing, always happy, always in a good mood,” she said. “He could make everybody else smile.”

Walkers wore beaded necklaces of all different colors that represented the relationship to those they lost — white for a child, gold for a parent, purple for a friend, red for a spouse, orange for a sibling,  to name a few. 

With a white necklace draped from her neck, attendee Hilda Gonzalez told The Press her 27-year-old daughter died in June. Gonzalez had on a white shirt printed with a photo of her beaming daughter. 

“My child, my only girl, [I’m here] to fight in her honor,” Gonzalez said. “To prevent suicide and to say that anybody that has a loved one suffering from mental health and suicide — just love them. Support them.” 

Another walker was Tracy Rodriguez, who lost her son Waldemar in 2015. He was 37.

“He had a big smile,” she said as her voice began to break. “He has twin brothers, his sisters, and my other son. We bring [in] all their friends and let them know they can speak with us. That’s what I do it for — for the younger versions of my son.”

Before the walk began, AFSP staff spoke to the crowd, sharing information about available resources through the organization. Actress April Castillo, who appeared in the film “Freedom Writers,” also told her story. 

From 16 to 19, Castillo was in an abusive intimate relationship. Feeling like there was no way to get out, she attempted suicide. Years later, after the birth of her daughter, she struggled with severe postpartum depression and attempted once more. 

She said it is shame that often prevents those experiencing suicidal ideation from reaching out for help. 

“We can break that shame,” she told attendees, “And know there is hope, there is love, and there is empathy, no matter how hard you are fighting. I want you all to know that you are not alone. For those who are standing for their loved ones, walk in power.” 

The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7, 365 days a year. Text or call 988 for support.