Image courtesy of AFSP Tennessee
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, yet suicide can be prevented. Volunteers from Jackson and all over West Tennessee are joining the quarter of a million people who are walking in towns across the United States to draw attention to the fight for suicide prevention. The annual Jackson Out of the Darkness Walk, hosted by the AFSP TN will be held at 9 a.m.to 12 p.m., Saturday, November 6 at North Park in Jackson. This walk supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s education and support programs and its bold goal to reduce the annual U.S. rate of suicide 20 percent by the year 2025.
“Suicide touches one in five American families. We hope that by walking we will draw attention to this issue and keep other families from experiencing a suicide loss. Our ultimate goal is to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide,” said Darin Hollingsworth, AFSP Tennessee – Jackson Walk Chair.
The Jackson Out of the Darkness Walk is one of more than 550 Out of the Darkness Overnight, Community and Campus Walks being held nationwide this year. The walks are expected to unite more than 300,000 walkers and raise millions for suicide prevention efforts. Last year, these walks raised over $21 million for suicide prevention. The Jackson Out of the Darkness Walk has already exceeded the initial goal for this year by rising over $10 thousand for suicide prevention and mental health awareness.
Speakers at the Jackson Out of the Darkness Walk will include members of the Jackson Fire Department and other community leaders who are passionate about suicide prevention. Families are invited to come out and meet our Fire Department representatives, see their equipment and walk with them in their turn out gear. Also for kids and adults who are interested, we will have a Kindness Rock Painting station. Other exhibitors will be on hand with community information and additional suicide prevention and mental health resources.
“These walks are about turning hope into action,” said AFSP CEO Robert Gebbia. “The research has shown us how to fight suicide, and if we keep up the fight, the science is only going to get better and our culture will get smarter about mental health. With the efforts of our courageous volunteers, and a real investment from our nation’s leaders, we hope to significantly reduce the suicide rate in the United States.”
Local sponsors for the Jackson Out of the Darkness Walk include Christ Community Health Services – East Jackson and West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation with additional support from Community Bank.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. AFSP 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., AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states with programs and events nationwide. Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report, and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.