More News

Sharon Cardarelli doesn't want another family to suffer through the pain with which she still battles.

On March 22, 2004, her 16-year-old son Gregory Cardarelli, a victim of cyber bullying, slammed his car into tree after a prank was played on him, she said. A letter Gregory left behind detailed how his male friends pretended to be a girl interested in him. He later discovered it was actually a group of guys. The embarrassment was too much for Gregory and he killed himself, according to the letter he left behind.

"No one wants to talk about suicide," Cardarelli said Friday night during an American Foundation for Suicide Prevention fundraiser in Germantown. "It's too important. We have to do something to get people to talk."

Cardarelli, of Rockville, is one of more than 50 people working to start the National Capital chapter of AFSP. Wylie Tene, spokesman for the New York-based suicide prevention organization, said AFSP's goal is to have chapters in each state. The National Capital chapter, which should be fully operational by July 1, will cover the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. It will be added to the 33 active chapters, Tene said.

AFSP's chapters are volunteer-based and do not have paid staff, said Steve Iselin, chairman of the new chapter. Money from fundraisers is used for outreach to schools, to publicize awareness events and returned to AFSP for prevention research.

At Friday's fundraiser, dozens of people turned out at Hard Times Café and Cue at 13032 Middlebrook Road in Germantown. In a corner of the billiards room, a table with T-shirts and information about suicide prevention was set up. A quilt with pictures of suicide victims hung from the wall. The restaurant donated 20 percent from all food and drink purchases between 4 p.m. and midnight, though the amount raised was not available as of Tuesday.

Cardarelli said the money will go toward the upcoming "Out of the Darkness Walk," awareness event scheduled for October.

Kim Edmands, of Frederick, hosted her first walk in November in memory of her son, Bryant Edmands. On May 6, 2006, Bryant, 21, who suffered with anxiety and depression, jumped to his death from a bridge in Frederick. More than 400 people showed up for the event, she said.

"Most people aren't aware of the signs of depression," Edmands said. "For us, to let people know about the suicide is important."

More than 33,000 people nationally die each year by suicide, Tene said, which breaks down to about one person every 16 minutes. Depression, he said, is the top reason why people kill themselves. More than 24 million Americans suffer from depression, Tene said.

"Depression doesn't manifest being sad," Tene said. "It can even be displayed by people when people can't concentrate or something like back pain."

Trish Traylor is one of the new chapter's original members. Traylor, of Germantown, said making people aware that suicide is something to be concerned about is her mission. In 2006, Traylor's son, Jim Edmonds, 23, took his life.

"Whenever we do stuff like this, it brings others out," Traylor said. "It's a safe place for survivors and a great place to educate people about suicide."

Iselin, of Burke, Va., said he is proud of the women's commitment to bring awareness to a difficult topic to discuss. Last fall, Iselin said, he started calling the AFSP's headquarters in hopes of launching a local chapter. In January, Iselin and more than 50 others met in Alexandria, Va. The group will meet again in Washington, D.C., on March 23.

"I'm excited," he said. "More than anything, I want to raise money for AFSP so they can continue doing research on the many causes of suicide."

For more information about the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention visit www.afsp.org. To find out more about the National Capital Chapter, e-mail Trish Traylor at trishtraylor@comcast.net.

If you are someone you know are feeling suicidal, call the Montgomery County Crisis Center 24-hours a day at 240-777-4000.