Walkers take to the streets to prevent suicide
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, yet suicide is preventable.
More than 7,500 people from throughout the Chicago area are expected to participate in the annual Out of the Darkness Chicagoland Walk hosted by the Illinois Chapter at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at Montrose Harbor in Chicago.
This fundraising walk supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's local and national education and advocacy programs and its bold goal to reduce the annual rate of suicide 20 percent by 2025.
"We walk to raise awareness about this important health issue. Suicide touches one in five American families. We hope that by walking we save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide," said Courtney Collins, Chicago area walk chair.
The Chicagoland walk is one of more than 400 Out of the Darkness Community Walks being held nationwide this year. The walks are expected to unite more than 350,000 walkers and raise millions of dollars for suicide prevention efforts.
With this walk last year, the Illinois chapter raised more than $1 million and had more than 7,200 participants.
This year's walk will include comfort dogs, remarks from walkers touched by suicide, remembrance activities for those lost to suicide and more.
"These walks are about turning hope into action," said American Foundation for Suicide Prevention CEO Robert Gebbia. "Suicide is a serious problem, but it's a problem we can solve. The research has shown us how to fight suicide, and if we keep up the fight the science is only going to get better, our culture will get smarter about mental health, and we'll be able to save more people from dying from depression and other mental health conditions."
Walk, volunteer or donate at www.afsp.org/chicago.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention creates a culture that's smart about mental health through education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide.
Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, and with a public policy office in Washington, D.C., the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has local chapters in all 50 states with programs and events nationwide.
Learn more about American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in its latest Annual Report, and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following American Foundation for Suicide Prevention on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.