The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) has announced plans to hold the second Out of the Darkness Overnight walk July 16-17, 2005, in Chicago. The walk is a 20-mile journey that raises funds and awareness for suicide prevention, education, and survivor programs.
The overnight event will be similar to the initial walk held in Washington, D.C., in 2002; that walk raised $1.2 million and brought together 2,400 walkers and volunteers nationwide.
‘Suicide is a national health problem. It is estimated that close to 1 million Americans make a suicide attempt each year,’ said Robert Gebbia, executive director of AFSP. Suicide is also the third-leading cause of death among teens and young adults and the second-leading cause of death for college students. In addition, Americans over the age of 65 account for 20 percent of all suicide deaths.
See www.theovernight.org.