West Forsyth Students To Walk for Suicide Prevention on Sunday

More than 1,000 survivors and suicide and mental health advocates will participate in the Metro Atlanta Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s annual fundraising walk from 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, at Piedmont Park in Atlanta.  

The 10th-annual Out of the Darkness Walk will be dedicated to Georgian teens who have died by suicide, and include cheerleaders, bands and dancers from metro Atlanta high schools, including West Forsyth High.

In addition, the 3K community walk will feature live local music by The Digits and Wesley Cook, appearances by Atlanta’s pro-sport mascots and a dove release. To highlight the AFSP’s 10-year impact in Atlanta, AFSP’s national executive director Robert Gebbia will be in attendance to make remarks about national suicide prevention efforts.

Nationally, every 13.7 minutes someone takes his/her own life, making suicide the 10th leading cause of death in America and the second leading cause of death for U.S. youth.  

In Georgia, more than 1,000 citizens die by suicide each year, causing suicide rates to surpass those of homicide. Out of the Darkness raises the funds necessary to support metro Atlanta prevention efforts, advocacy programs and survivor outreach.

AFSP Atlanta hopes to increase public awareness and raise $125,000 for suicide prevention research, education and advocacy. Local sponsors include The Johnny Foundation, Emory University, Behavorial Health Link and Skyland Trail.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is the leading national nonprofit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy, and to reaching out to people with mental disorders and those impacted by suicide.  As one of the nation’s leading AFSP chapters, the Metro Atlanta Chapter hosts local education, awareness, advocacy and fundraising events in central Georgia. Learn more about the metro Atlanta chapter by visiting www.afsp.org/atlanta.

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