NJ Woman Carrying Casket Has Emotional End To 80-Mile Journey For Mental Health Awareness
TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A New Jersey woman towing a casket behind her to raise awareness of mental health issues has arrived at the statehouse after roughly 80-mile walk.
Greta Schwartz, of Seaville, broke down in tears after she stopped at the statehouse steps on Wednesday. It was the third and final day of the 48-year-old's journey from Cape May County.
Schwartz had a backpack of water and stored food in the wooden casket that she is pulled behind her with a strap fastened to her waist. The casket had the word "revolution" printed on its lid. It also listed the names of about 70 people to whom Schwartz had a personal connection who have killed themselves. The casket had two wheels at the narrow end to help Schwartz pull it.
"I can't just sit around," she said at the start of her journey. "This is happening. I have over 70 names. That's just people I have a connection with. Not even strangers."
Schwartz walked from Seaville to Hammonton on Monday and headed from Hammonton to Mount Holly on Tuesday. She finished her journey in Trenton on Wednesday.
She said her son knew two students at Ocean City High School who killed themselves in 2014 and 2015.
The restaurant owner and former actor says she started the third leg of walk with blisters on her feet, but hit her stride once adrenaline kicked in.
Schwartz, who owns the Red Sky Cafe in Seaville, put her theatrical experience as a former actor in New York City to work after attending a discussion on mental health from former Rhode Island U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, who spoke in November at Stockton University.
Kennedy, the son of former U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, now lives in Brigantine and has been a political advocate for mental health issues.
Suicide is the 10th-leading cause of death in the U.S., according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
The national suicide rate was about 13 per 100,000 people in 2014, the latest year when statistics were available, according to the foundation. New Jersey tracks lower than the national average at about eight per 100,000, according to the foundation.
The state operates a suicide prevention hotline and website.
Mental health awareness has also been a huge initiative of New York City first lady Chirlane McCray. The city launched a $2 million advertising campaign in April meant to get people thinking and talking about mental health problems.
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