Suicide prevention walk at Penn State Fayette on April 19
By: Joshua Simon
Movement of a Quarter of a Million People Joined by Local Participants in Fayette County
LEMONT FURNACE, Pa. − Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, yet suicide can be prevented. Volunteers from Fayette County, Pa. 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 Out of the Darkness Walk, hosted by Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, will be held on April 19, 12:00 p.m. 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 goal is to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide,” Amanda Collins, mental health counselor at the Fayette campus.
The Out of the Darkness Walk at Penn State Fayette 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.
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.
