OLD BROOKLYN, Ohio — September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and the group Walls of Love is dedicating its latest project to the cause and two local families mourning the loss of their loved ones.
The group installed its latest wall at Gabe’s Family Restaurant in Old Brooklyn Saturday. It’s the 520th wall for Walls of Love in Cleveland and across the country. Like those other walls, it's covered with essential items for people in need.
But its also a memory wall for Alex Kolodny and Jordan Briggs, who both died by suicide.
Alex took his own life back in 2010 at the age of 22.
“We really didn’t have very much of an idea, and when this happened, it really, drastically changed our lives forever,” Jill Kolodny, Alex’s stepmom, said.
Alex’s family teamed up with Walls of Love founder Holly Jackson to share his story and bring awareness to the community about suicide. She collaborated with the family on the idea of doing the memory wall for Alex and the Kolodnys wanted to include Jackson’s nephew Jordan Briggs, who died by suicide at the age of 18 back in 2013.
“We definitely want to show these gentlemen in the light that they had at one time and do it in a positive way, rather than just remember things that have happened,” Jackson said.
Additional items placed on the wall include special shirts embossed with the phrase “you matter” and bags of chocolate chip cookies, which were Kolodny’s favorite. Walls of Love also provided information about the resources available to people who are struggling with mental health issues and need help.
Their goal is to honor both Alex’s and Jordan’s lives and help others going through the same struggles.
“I just think it’s a win-win on both sides. You’re helping people who might need something and if one person takes the suicide prevention number out of one of those bags, and makes a call, and their family doesn’t have to suffer the loss—then its all for the good,” Jill Kolodny said.
Jackson said she hopes the memory wall will give the Kolodny family some peace and aid in healing their pain. And the Kolodnys wanted to send a message to anyone suffering from mental health issues.
“It's okay, there’s a lot of people that have the same issues as you. Lean on your family, lean on your friends, and get help,” John Kolodny, Alex’s dad, said.
After the installation of Saturday’s wall, Walls of Love isn’t slowing down. The group plans to install 50 walls in one day, in the Cleveland area and in several different states, on Nov. 7.
Walls of Love is currently only accepting monetary donations because of the COVID-19 pandemic. More information can be found here.
Jade Jarvis is a reporter at News 5 Cleveland. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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