What does “Rockin’ Life” mean to you? Those words held many different meanings for the folks who attended an open-stage evening at the Rio West Mall, 1300 W. Maloney Ave., on Sept. 30.
September is recognized nationally as Suicide Prevention Month, and the mall invited local community members to come out and express their way of “rockin’ life.”
“We put this event on so that people can show how they celebrate life, and to focus on life,” Rio West Mall General Manager Anita Artalejo said.
The event was open to anyone who has been affected by suicide, and Artalejo said it was a great way to get involved with the community.
“We were approached by UnitedHealthcare who sponsored this event, and we are doing our best to be involved in the community, as well as opening up our doors to the community,” she said.
UnitedHealthcare is a division of one of the nation’s largest health carriers, UnitedHealth Group. According to its website, UnitedHealth Group aims to improve quality and effectiveness of health care, enhance access to health benefits, and make healthcare more affordable.
The mall held the event in an effort to bring awareness to suicide and celebrate life through music, sharing, informational booths, and a large banner signed by attendees who were “rockin’ life.”
Several people came out to perform in honor of someone they lost to suicide and to show that there’s plenty in life to live for.
Community participants Michael Morris and Lynnar Elliott “rocked life” by singing and playing music.
“We came to support our friend and to hopefully shed some light on what is happening in our area. I know people struggle with the idea of suicide, and even find it hard to come out with it and just talk about it,” Morris said.
Elliott added, “When I younger and feeling sad, music always helped me out, so that’s why we’re out here singing it and expressing it out.”
One participant, Watson Billy, dedicated his performance to a friend lost to alcoholism.
“When we were younger, we would play in a band and have a few,” Billy said. “As I got older and started my own family, I got away from that. He never did, and alcohol got a hold of him and eventually took him. He was very talented; I told his family that I would dedicate this to him to help celebrate life.”
The local vendors who displayed information related to suicide prevention included Gallup Indian Medical Center Health Promotion Specialist Colleen Hoskie.
“We were invited by UH, we do collaborate with them and support what they are doing here for suicide prevention. We’re passing on information regarding suicide prevention, domestic violence, healthy eating and other related material,” Hoskie said.
Zuni Fitness Instructors Lorinda Gchacu and Rebecca Quam came out to show that suicide can indeed be prevented.
“We’re here to promote healthy alternatives — Zumba, diabetes awareness classes, all free of charge — and to show how to prevent suicide by relieving stress and depression,” Gchacu said.
“We’re here to help the youth between the ages of 18 and 24,” HELP New Mexico Inc. Employment Community Specialist Michelle Bitsie said. “Depending on what their barriers are, we help them get into a program where they can overcome those barriers, such as being unemployed, more education, even getting their high school diploma, lack of work experience, and such.”
The Rockin’ Life open-stage event was the first of its kind for Rio West Mall, but Artalejo says the mall will be promoting other community events in the month of October.
“We have several events coming up, so follow us on Facebook,” she said.
Story and photos by Dee Velasco
For the Sun