Orlando’s 12th Annual Out of the Darkness Community Walk
Out of the Darkness
Out of the Darkness Walk to Fight Suicide is the signature fundraiser for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) which began in 1987. However, the community walks did not start until 2004, with only 24 walks across the country. In 2018, there have already been more than 425 walks!
Orlando was one of the first to host one of the walks in Florida. Funds raised from the Orlando Walk will allow the AFSP Central Florida Chapter to provide the survivor outreach program (peer support for survivors of suicide loss.) International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day is a day when the friends and family of those who have died by suicide can join together for healing and support. Lifekeeper Memory Quilt Workshops advocate for laws that support mental health legislation at our Florida Day at the Capitol and educational programs like Mental Health First Aid which teaches the skills to respond to the signs of mental illness and substance use. At Talk Saves Lives, attendees will learn the risk and warning signs of suicide and how, together, we can help prevent it. And safeTALK is a half-day alertness training that prepares anyone over the age of 15, regardless of prior experience or training, to become a suicide-alert helper. For resources, please visit https://afsp.org/find-support/
The History of Our Local Orlando Chapter
In 2006, I saw an article in the Orlando Sentinel about three young men who took their lives. My dad died by suicide April 28, 2004, at the age of 73. I was trying to find something, a reason why, and realized that could never be answered, so I channeled my grief into being an activist. I love and miss my dad every day. I contacted Mike Lamma with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and he flew down and connected me with some other folks who were trying to get the Out of the Darkness Walk off the ground and on February 9, 2007, Orlando had its first Out of the Darkness Community Walk. Marie Dudek Brown, Ann Dumont, Beth Wise, and Ben Newman were instrumental in this. A year later, The Central Florida Chapter-AFSP was started and I have been on the board ever since, along with two other founding board members, Marie and Beth. For more information, go to this site: www.afsp.org/cfl.
Suicide Prevention
Suicide claims more lives than war, murder, and natural disasters combined. The best way to prevent suicide is through early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of depression and other mental health conditions. In Florida, there were 3,143 suicides in 2018 and it is the 10th leading cause of death in Florida. It’s alarming that it is the third leading cause of death in ages 15-24! On average, a person dies in the state of Florida by suicide every three hours. AFSP has set this bold goal: Reducing the Suicide Rate by 20% by 2025. You can help by participating in your local Out of the Darkness Walks and becoming an advocate. www.afsp.org
Community Walks
The Orlando Out of the Darkness Walk is a three-and-a-half-mile walk around Lake Baldwin in which hundreds of people come out on that first Saturday in February every year. Each year I ask walkers what they like most about the event and some of the comments are that it provides a community of healing, knowing that there is no judgment here, it provides comfort in knowing how we each feel, honoring our loved ones’ spirits. The event provides a strong sense of community as well as the resources for those who are searching for information.
Community Walks are proof that when people work together, they can make big changes in our world. Come to our walk and make a difference.
This year, our goal is to raise $150,000 and have 2,000 walkers! Please join us on Saturday, Feb. 2 at Baldwin Park, across from 2420 Lakemont Ave. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and opening ceremony at 9 a.m. To register, go to www.afsp.org/orlando.
