Four Out of the Darkness Walks, organized to raise funds for suicide prevention, are planned for this fall in West Virginia.
Andrea St. Clair, of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, said organizers expect more than 150 people to participate in the Out of the Darkness Walk on Oct. 1 in Charleston.
The walk will be held on the grounds of the West Virginia State Capitol at 10 a.m., according to a news release.
Walks are also planned for Parkersburg on Sept. 24, Moundsville on Sept. 25 and Shepherdstown on Oct. 15.
The walks are named "Out of the Darkness" because it is organizers' goal to bring suicide out of the shadows in an effort to prevent it.
While suicide is the 10th leading cause of the death in the United States, organizers noted that it is preventable, and they hope that making suicide OK to talk about will encourage those suffering from mental health conditions to seek help.
Funds raised support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and its research and prevention programs. More than 375 Out of the Darkness walks will be held this fall.
In a statement, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention CEO Robert Gebbia said they want to "save more people from dying from depression and other mental health conditions."
Register for the Charleston walk at www.afsp.org/CharlestonWV. Organizations interested in setting up a table should contact Andrea St. Clair at 304-444-4230 or astclair2@mix.wvu.edu. Participants can also register for some of the walks by visiting afsp.org/chapter/afsp-west-virginia and clicking "See All Events."
For more information on how to become involved in the Mid-Ohio Valley Walk contact Dr. Heather McCarter at 304-482-3025, email OOTDparkersburg@gmail.com, or search for the walk on Facebook.
For information on the Upper Ohio Valley (Moundsville) Walk, contact Chrystal Lucas at 740-310-2246 or email mamared67@gmail.com. The event also has a Facebook page.
For more information on the Shepherdstown walk, contact Duaine Phillips at 304-707-8250, email duainephillips@yahoo.com, or visit the Facebook page.
The West Virginia chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention started organizing the walks last year after forming a state chapter.