SALEM — More than 200 people reportedly attended a candlelit memorial Sunday night in front of the Marion County Courthouse, in memory of those taken by suicide or drug overdose.

Dozens of luminarias lined the sidewalk, many carrying the names of victims of suicide or drug overdose.

Organizer Sarah Boyles says attendees held a prayer circle, where loved ones of suicide victims or drug overdose spoke out. The Community Resource Center provided cards that were handed out with the crisis line number on them.

Boyles spoke about lifting a stigma surrounding suicide, and called on schools to be more proactive, holding at least one anti-suicide rally each year.

This is the second candlelit memorial held this month for suicide victims, with the first held August 16. Since that time, at least two suicides have been confirmed in the area. The family of one boy who took his life Saturday night attended the memorial.

 

 

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