Oxford resident Michelle Hrischuk believes more people need to discuss suicide in an open and honest manner in order to help prevent others from following her son’s tragic path.
‘It’s a taboo (subject), but it’s got to be talked about,? she said. ‘It’s the second leading killer and no one talks about it.?
A report from the World Health Organization (WHO) stated suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15-to-29-year-olds globally.
To help combat this epidemic, Hrischuk is inviting the public to participate in the Third Annual Tour de Shane Bike-a-thon along the Polly Ann Trail on Saturday, Sept. 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The event is dedicated to increasing public awareness about suicide prevention and preserving the memory of Shane Hrischuk, a popular Oxford Middle School eighth-grader who shot himself in January 2012. He would have celebrated his 17th birthday Sept. 15.
‘I do feel like we’ve made an impact,? Hrischuk said. ‘I feel like Shane has saved a lot of lives. We might not know who they are, but I feel like he has.?
As always, the Tour de Shane begins at Christ the King Church, located at 1550 W. Drahner Rd. in Oxford Township.
From there, bicyclists can travel one of three routes along the scenic Polly Ann Trail.
Walkers and runners are welcome, too.
Registration begins at 9 a.m. and Common Ground representatives will give a presentation about suicide around 9:30 a.m.
Based in Oakland County, Common Ground provides counseling, information and referrals to help individuals and families in crisis.
Participants will hit the trail at 10 a.m.
The fee to participate is $25 each for adults and $15 each for youth age 17 and under.
As of Friday, Sept. 5, Hrischuk said 139 people were registered for the event, but she’s hoping for many more.
‘I’m praying that we get a lot of walk-ups and last-minute sign-ups,? she said.
All three trail routes will take participants past Ridgelawn Memorial Cemetery, the place where Shane is buried.
In Shane’s honor, the Hrischuk family adopted the portion of the trail that runs between W. Burdick St. and the pedestrian bridge over M-24.
Suicide is a subject that’s usually shrouded in secrecy and shame. The social stigma associated with it, as well as with depression and mental illness, leads to a silence that can turn deadly.
‘I think there’s a lot of people who think about suicide and are depressed, especially kids, but they don’t tell anybody,? Hrischuk said.
In Shane’s case, his family never saw it coming. He was a good student who excelled in academics and sports, and was well-liked by his peers.
Whatever was bothering Shane, he never shared it with his parents. To this day, they still wonder why he did it.
Hrischuk never discussed suicide with her son because unlike other topics, such as bullying, teen sex and drunk driving, there was no advocacy group or program in the community encouraging her to do so.
‘I didn’t know I was supposed to ever, ever, ever talk to him about that,? she said. ‘I never knew this.?
Now, she wishes she had because maybe it would have helped Shane.
Hrischuk is determined to make sure other parents discuss suicide with their children before it’s too late.
‘You have to talk to them and you have to look for the warning signs,? she said.
Some warning signs include poor self-image; withdrawing from friends, family members and social activities; excessive use of alcohol and drugs; and changes in appearance (i.e. they once took very good care of themselves and now, they’ve let themselves go).
Other warning signs include giving away prized possessions; feelings of hopelessness and depression; diminishing academic performance; and losing interest in things (hobbies, sports, volunteering, etc.) about which they were once very passionate.
The WHO reports a prior suicide attempt is the single most important risk factor for suicide in the general population.
Hrischuk encouraged parents to tell their kids that ‘it’s not the end of the world? if they get cut from a sports team, break up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, or get a bad grade in school.
Because young people are prone to act impulsively, parents have to help them understand their problems are of a temporary nature and suicide is not a solution because death is permanent, according to Hrischuk.
Ultimately, she hopes the Tour de Shane makes people realize that suicide is something that needs to be addressed now because it’s a serious problem that’s not going away and ignoring it won’t help.
‘This is real and this is happening,? Hrischuk said. ‘It’s happening in our families. It’s happening in our churches. It’s happening to adults. It’s happening to kids. It’s happening to celebrities. It’s happening all the time.?
The WHO reports one person dies from suicide worldwide every 40 seconds.
It’s estimated that more than 800,000 people die globally due to suicide every year and there are indications that for each adult who died of suicide, there may have been more than 20 others who attempted the act, according to the WHO.
For more information about the Tour de Shane, visit www.tourdeshane.com or contact Michelle Hrischuk at (248) 969-0397.