Stories about Community Walk
We’ve Come So Far: Celebrating the 20th Annual Atlanta Out of the Darkness Community Walk for Suicide Prevention
AFSP's Out of the Darkness Walks raise awareness and much-needed funds to combat suicide, which has long been a leading cause of death. The Atlanta Community Walk holds a special place in my heart – especially this year, as it is Atlanta’s 20th annual event.
To Make Sense of My Mother’s Suicide, I Had to Understand My Own Relationship to Mental Health
When I was 14 years old, I lost my mother, Sabrina Jones, to suicide. Up until my mom's death, I did not understand to what extent mental health could affect your everyday life, including my own.
We Need to Do This for Dad
This year I will have lived my life longer without Tom than with him. But he is with me every time I tell his story, train a suicide prevention class, visit with a suicide loss survivor, and attend an Out of the Darkness walk.
How I Became a Chief Hope Hugger at The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Out of the Darkness Walks
I first got involved with AFSP because of my own person struggles with mental health. As a volunteer I want to support everyone I can, and I discovered I could do that with something as simple as giving a hug!
Out of the Darkness Walker Spotlight Interview: Ramani Rangavajhula
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Since 2002, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Out of the Darkness Walks have brought friends, neighbors, family members and colleagues together to walk through their communities to raise public awareness and funds to support suicide prevention.
It’s Okay to Say Suicide: How We’re Encouraging Conversations in Dentistry and Beyond
It was ten days before Christmas of 2017 when my family lost my brother to suicide. I can still remember the moment my dad called to break the news. I was in disbelief. How could Jason – the brother who always seemed so happy, the proud father of three kids, the devoted husband to a loving wife – take his own life?
Fighting Loneliness Through Connection
2017 was a tough year for me. My heart had been broken. I was plagued by a medical issue throughout a good portion of the year. The new job I thought was going to be lucrative wasn’t.
I Walk Because My Life is Worth Living
I walk because suicide prevention matters to me and isn’t spoken about enough. No one should suffer alone or in silence. I walk because my passion in life is to share my experiences in hopes that they can help someone else.
Finding Peace After a Suicide: One Walker's Healing Journey in Nature
An ode to the out of darkness community walks and the joy of finding peace and healing in nature after loss.
Facing the Pain
My first suicide attempt happened at age 13. When I left the hospital, I told my parents about the sexual abuse. I was asked to “pretend it didn’t happen.” Drugs and alcohol became my solution, and – in a way – kept me alive for many, many years.
Learning to Live for Myself
I went home that night, and for the first time in a very long time, felt I could breathe again.
Understanding ‘The Why’
People who knew my dad tried hard to make sense of his death with statements and questions such as these. The truth is that we all ask, “Why?” after losing someone to suicide. In fact, it’s in our very nature as human beings to understand the world around us by asking who, what, where, when, and why.
Empathy and Pain and Hope: Finding Connection Through the Out of the Darkness Walks
My family and I formed Team Nicole Lundy in September of 2010 to participate in the Indianapolis Out of the Darkness Walk, and it was the best thing we could have done. The walk started by simply giving us a way to honor Nicole, but it turned into so much more.
Suicide Prevention at the Drive-In: Turning Our Out of the Darkness Walk into a Safe, In-Person Experience
I know all of us have felt the effects of this pandemic, both personally and professionally. It has taken a toll on all of us. I am so grateful for all of my AFSP colleagues and the dedicated volunteers for all they do each and every day – especially those times when the odds feel as though they are against us.
Together We Keep Going: Join us For an Out of the Darkness Experience
At the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, one of our challenges has been determining how to transform our Out of the Darkness Walks – which bring so many people together each year to raise awareness and funds in the fight against suicide – into meaningful experiences when we can’t gather in person.
Honoring My Mother by Working Toward a World Without Suicide
My mother Helen is the reason why I fight to raise awareness of mental health and suicide prevention. Helen was an amazing mentor and confidant to me. I felt I could tell her anything.
Finding Family at the Community Walks
To learn more about our exciting work and read other Volunteer Spotlight Stories, see our 2019 Annual Report.
Taking a First Step Toward Understanding
Victoria Gonzalez is a proud advocate for mental health and founded the first Out of the Darkness Campus Walk at Pace University in 2017.
Scoring a Home Run with Youth Baseball and Suicide Prevention
As in life, we all make mistakes. It’s how we learn and improve that’s important.
Walking to Raise Awareness of Veterinary Suicide
I walk in honor of Sarah, and in honor of all those lost.
Being There for Other Suicide Loss Survivors
These were my goals. But I couldn’t help asking myself: “How can I help others when I couldn’t help the person who mattered most to me?”
Losing a Friend to Suicide at a Young Age
I walk because every life lost to suicide is a story ended too soon.
Awareness Through Art
Elie Kennedy is a mother on a mission.
Local Walk Raised $1M to Fight Suicide
Chicago First Out of the Darkness Community Walk to Raise Over $1M
Multi-Platinum Artists Brent Smith and Zach Myers of Shinedown to Join Suicide Prevention Walk in Washington, D.C.
Brent Smith and Zach Myers from the multi-platinum rock band Shinedown will join the DC101's One More Light walk team at the 12th Annual Washington, D.C. Out of the Darkness Community Walk.
Dancing Through the Fire
Today I am partnering with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to share my connection to suicide for the first time.
We Walk for Those Who Feel Like They Have No One
"We participated in the Walk because we want others to know that they are not alone, and that they never will be alone."
Connecting with Other Survivors of Suicide Loss
“You are not alone. It was not your fault. You matter.”
Adopting a New Attitude to My Mental Health
I started asking myself, “What if I stopped pretending that I don’t suffer from depression? What could that do for my life?"
Walking with a Purpose
Each time I attend a walk it feels healing to be within a community of people who understand and are there to support one another.
I Walk for Both of Us
Since Ryan’s passing, life hasn’t been the same, and it never will be exactly the same.
Walking for Myself
Will I continue to learn about my illness, my warning signs, and coping skills in order to stay healthy? Yes.
A New Look for AFSP’s Out of the Darkness Walks!
We hope you like our new look, and that it inspires you to keep walking with us toward a world without suicide!