More than 3,000 people came out to raise $500,000 in Sunday, October 27's 3-mile walk for suicide prevention at Jones Beach on Long Island.
The Long Island Chapter of The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), a leading suicide research and prevention organization in the US, hosted its annual Long Island "Out of the Darkness" Community Walk along the boardwalk.
“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, 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 is one of the top five fundraising walks in the country for AFSP.
These events give people the courage to open up about their own connections to the cause, and a platform to create a culture that’s smart about mental health. Friends, family members, neighbors and coworkers walk side-by-side, supporting each other and in memory of those lost.
“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.”
The walk started at Field 5 at Jones Beach and traveled along the boardwalk for 3 miles.
ABOUT THE AFSP LI:
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide, including those who have experienced a loss. AFSP creates a culture that’s smart about mental health through public 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, with a public policy office in Washington, DC, AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico, with programs and events nationwide. Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP LI on Facebook and Instagram.