September is National Suicide Prevention Month and this year the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is underscoring looking out for each other by encouraging the public to join one of the hundreds of community Out of the Darkness Walks starting in September.
Walkers like the Burke family from Virginia, who lost their son who was a US Navy submariner to suicide, participate in their Community Walk year after year.
“It’s almost like a family reunion every year,” Ray Burke said.
“You have all these people coming from different walks of life… and you’re all coming together with one common goal. You’re there to provide comfort, love, and compassion to each other.”
The community walks give people across the country an opportunity to support AFSP and raise awareness of how the funds raised prevent suicide through: scientific research, public policy advocacy, loss and healing support, and education programs that increase the public’s knowledge of how we can all play a role in looking out for each other. At these walks, people make life-changing connections, honour loved ones lost to suicide, amplify the resilience of those with lived experience, and show support to each other and for programmes that save lives.
Funds raised make a tangible impact, for example: $50 provides suicide prevention education materials to 25 people, $100 brings It’s Real: Teens and Mental Health education programme to a local high school, and $250 recruits and trains Volunteer Advocates to take action on public policy priorities that prevent suicide.
“Our mission of giving hope to those affected by suicide and saving lives comes to life by people showing up for each other and learning how to offer support,” said AFSP CEO Bob Gebbia.
“One way to show support is to walk for suicide prevention, and we invite you to join an Out of the Darkness Community Walk near you. By coming together, we raise awareness and funds for suicide prevention, and we help save lives.”
AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico, with programmes and events nationwide.
