Last weekend my family and I participated in a 5K walk/jog/run for suicide prevention. This event has been held for several years, and as part of the event they do a suicide remembrance ceremony the night before the 5K. While we have not been able to make it every year since my dad died, we try to go when we can.
Although not the same type of event, the 5K was similar to the Out of the Darkness Walks held by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, or AFSP. I might have mentioned them before, however I don’t talk about them as much as I do NAMI. You can visit AFSP’s website here: https://afsp.org/ Honestly, I do not know a lot about them, but I know they do walks like the one I already mentioned. And, since an unfortunate outcome of depression can be suicide, I understand and support the work that AFSP does.
Unlike some of the walks, I mentioned that the one I just went to had a remembrance ceremony, and that has been powerful for me. To see and hear the names and faces of other suicide victims is heartbreaking, but sharing that grief with others is impactful. For people who are touched by depression and suicide, you are not alone, and hopefully a lot of us can find some comfort in that.
Doing events like these can be a powerful way to show your support and help eliminate the stigma of suicide. 5Ks are social events and naturally involve people talking about suicide and how to create solutions to this terrible outcome. It is one of many ways for anyone to get involved in the hope to end all suicides.
So, are you up for a walk? Or a jog? Or a run? If so, consider looking into events such as the Out of the Darkness Walks, where you can get some exercise and support a good cause.