“Out of the Darkness” walk for suicide prevention raises $500K

Over 3,000 people came out to raise $500,000 during the annual Long Island “Out of the Darkness” Community Walk hosted by the Long Island Chapter of The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) on Sunday, Oct. 27. 

“It gives people a sense of hope and of being connected to the people who have been through what they’ve been through,” said Ann Morrison-Pacella, executive director of AFSP LI. “It’s really impactful. We want people to feel connected to others around them. To look around and see other people who have lost someone like they have or are struggling or have a family member who is struggling and realize they are not struggling alone.” 

The Community Walks, held in hundreds of communities across the country, are the core of the Out of the Darkness movement, which began in 2004. The Jones Beach Walk, which began at Field 5 and traveled 3 miles along the boardwalk, is one of the top five fundraising walks in the country for AFSP. 

“I wish I knew then what I know now,” said Carrie Aronson, who lost her teenage daughter Brittany Marie to suicide in 2009. “To have their parents talk to their children, don’t be afraid to talk about suicide, or that they’re feeling depressed. When someone goes to the doctor because they’re sick, they get help. We need to treat our mental health the way we treat our physical health and stop the stigma.” 

To learn more about the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, visit www.afsp.org.