Volunteers from Oakland, Macomb, and surrounding counties 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 Oakland/Rochester/Macomb Out of the Darkness Community Walk, hosted by the Michigan Chapter will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14 at Stony Creek Metropark Eastwood Beach. 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,” said Lisa Matway, AFSP Michigan Chapter board member, who noted that suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. “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.”
The Oakland/Rochester/Macomb Out of the Darkness Community Walk is one of more than 550 such events 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 more than $21 million for suicide prevention. Last year this local walk raised more than $100,000 and attracted some 500 participants.
“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 Oakland/Rochester/Macomb Out of the Darkness Walk include Beaumont Hospital, Magna, Meridian, Medstar, Brighton Laboratories, Inc., BluePearl Pet Hospital, Chewy.com, CNS Homecare, Fabrizio & Brook, P.C., FRS, Parks Title, Suburban Ford, Yates Cider Mill, and Buffalo Wild Wings. Register for the walk at afsp.org/rochestermi.
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
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