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Tag Archives: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Berkshire County Out of the Darkness Walk to Prevent Suicide

The Berkshire County Out of the Darkness Walk to Prevent Suicide will be held Sunday, October 3, 2021 at a location to be determined.

The nationwide series of Walks is sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Registration is free , but participants are encouraged to fundraise in advance of the event.

To register go to: https://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=7554

Raise $150 by 09/26/2021 and receive an official Out of the Darkness T-shirt!

The following is a statement by the AFSP regarding lingering issues about the pandemic:

“Our top priority is the safety and health of our Walkers, Volunteers, and Staff. Because of this, we are carefully monitoring the developments related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) and will continue to do so. We are working with the city and state officials, and we will follow the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), City Departments of Public Health, and the World Health Organization. We know that this can be a difficult time, so please take some time to read AFSP’s Taking Care of Your Mental Health in the Face of Uncertainty and ADAA’s  Coronavirus Anxiety – Helpful Expert Tips and Resources.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.”

The Out of the Darkness Experience is a journey of remembrance, hope, and support. It unites our communities and provides an opportunity to acknowledge the ways in which suicide and mental illness have affected our lives and the lives of those we love and care about.

If you’re looking for resources, please visit www.afsp.org/resources.

80% of the proceeds from the Walks directly support AFSP programs.

For more information and Walk updates call Melissa Helm at (585) 831-1365 or email at mhelm313@gmail.com.

And here is a number you should copy and keep nearby because you never know.

24/7 Crisis Hotline: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Network
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
1-800-273-TALK (8255) (Veterans, press 1)

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Columbia-Greene Out of the Darkness Walk Against Suicide

Columbia-Greene Out of the Darkness Walk Against Suicide will be held Saturday, October 2, 2021 at Dutchman’s Landing, Catskill, NY.

The event is sponsored by the American Foundation For Suicide Prevention.

8:30 am  Registration

9:00 am – 1:00 pm Walk

Registration is free , but participants are encouraged to fundraise in advance of the event.

To register go to: https://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=7650.

Raise $150 by 09/26/2021 and receive an official Out of the Darkness T-shirt!

The following is a statement by the AFSP regarding lingering issues about the pandemic:

“Our top priority is the safety and health of our Walkers, Volunteers, and Staff. Because of this, we are carefully monitoring the developments related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) and will continue to do so. We are working with the city and state officials, and we will follow the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), City Departments of Public Health, and the World Health Organization. We know that this can be a difficult time, so please take some time to read AFSP’s Taking Care of Your Mental Health in the Face of Uncertainty and ADAA’s  Coronavirus Anxiety – Helpful Expert Tips and Resources.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.”

The Out of the Darkness Experience is a journey of remembrance, hope, and support. It unites our communities and provides an opportunity to acknowledge the ways in which suicide and mental illness have affected our lives and the lives of those we love and care about.

If you’re looking for resources, please visit www.afsp.org/resources.

80% of the proceeds from the Walks directly support AFSP programs.

For more information and Walk updates call Sandra Goldmeer at (518) 791-1544 or email at sgoldmeer@afsp.org

And here is a number you should copy and keep nearby because you never know.

24/7 Crisis Hotline: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Network
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
1-800-273-TALK (8255) (Veterans, press 1)

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Dutchess and Ulster Counties Out of the Darkness Walk Against Suicide

The Dutchess and Ulster Counties Out of the Darkness Walk Against Suicide will be held Sunday, September 26, 2021 on the Walkway Over the Hudson (location subject to State approval).

The nationwide series of Walks is sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

The Walk begins at 10:30 am and runs until Noon.

Registration is free , but participants are encouraged to fundraise in advance of the event.

To register go to: https://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=7508

Raise $150 by 09/26/2021 and receive an official Out of the Darkness T-shirt!

The following is a statement by the AFSP regarding lingering issues about the pandemic: ”

Our top priority is the safety and health of our Walkers, Volunteers, and Staff. Because of this, we are carefully monitoring the developments related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) and will continue to do so. We are working with the city and state officials, and we will follow the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), City Departments of Public Health, and the World Health Organization. We know that this can be a difficult time, so please take some time to read AFSP’s Taking Care of Your Mental Health in the Face of Uncertainty and ADAA’s  Coronavirus Anxiety – Helpful Expert Tips and Resources.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.”

The Out of the Darkness Experience is a journey of remembrance, hope, and support. It unites our communities and provides an opportunity to acknowledge the ways in which suicide and mental illness have affected our lives and the lives of those we love and care about.

If you’re looking for resources, please visit www.afsp.org/resources.

80% of the proceeds from the Walks directly support AFSP programs.

For more information and Walk updates call Nicole Bybal at (845) 416-4285 or email DCUCafsp@gmail.com.

And here is a number you should copy and keep nearby because you never know.

24/7 Crisis Hotline: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Network
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
1-800-273-TALK (8255) (Veterans, press 1)

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Out of the Darkness

I can’t believe it’s been six years – it was September of  2015 when Joey Sherwood took his life, and an entire town wept.

Ever since, Joey’s widow Joy has been taking part in the  Out of the Darkness Community Walk, an annual event sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). The Walk allows Joy to honor her husband and connect with other survivors who share her particular brand of pain.

The Walk is also a fundraiser, and although it doesn’t take place until September 26th, participants like Joy have already been busy raising money to help AFSP continue their important work.

Like last year, Joy is the leading fundraiser for the Dutchess/Ulster Walk, but she needs your help to reach her goal. The AFSP has a goal too- to reduce suicides by 20% by 2025 (nearly 50,000 Americans die each year from suicide).

To help Joy and to honor Joey’s memory please consider a contribution by following this link: https://afsp.donordrive.com/participant/Joy-Sherwood-2021

The AFSP teaches grade schoolers about mental health, continues research into what causes people to attempt suicide, and educates the general population about what behaviors to look for and how to get help for someone who exhibits those warning signs.

To get more information about the Dutchess/Ulster Out of the Darkness Walk visit:  https://sportingacause.com/event/dutchess-and-uls…-against-suicide/

For the Berkshire County Out of the Darkness Walk go to :  https://sportingacause.com/event/berkshire-county…-prevent-suicide/

For the Columbia-Greene Out of the Darkness Walk go to:  https://sportingacause.com/event/columbia-greene-…-against-suicide/

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US.

To learn more about AFSP’s good work visit https://afsp.org/

 

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Out of the Darkness Berkshire County Walk

The Out of the Darkness Berkshire County Walk will be held Saturday, October 3, 2020 at First Common Street, Pittsfield, MA  01201.

This event, which is  sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP),  is free to register, but participants are encouraged to fundraise prior to the event.

Registrants are also encouraged to form or join a team. You can find information about fundraising when you register.

Online registration ends at noon on Friday, Oct. 2nd, but you can register the morning of the Walk.

Walk donations are accepted until December 31st.

The Walks are generally 1- 3 miles long.

To register go here:  https://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=7000 Registrants who raise a minimum of $150 will receive an event T shirt.

For more information, please contact:
Contact Name: Melissa Helm
Contact Phone: 413-387-3770
Contact Email: hwhite@afsp.org

Walk Day Schedule:

8:30 am Check in and registration

10:00 am Walk Program begins

12:00 noon  Walk ends

Proceeds from the event will allow AFSP to invest in new research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss. AFSP has been able to set a goal to reduce the annual suicide rate 20% by 2025.

The AFSP Berkshire County has set a Walk goal of $75,000 for this year.

The national organization hosted over 400 events in all 50 states.

Currently, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States.

Thank you to national sponsor The Allergan Foundation.

To learn more visit afsp.org.

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Dutchess/Ulster Out of the Darkness Community Walk

The Dutchess/Ulster Out of the Darkness Community Walk 2020 will be held Sunday, September 27, 2020 at the Chazen Companies, 21 Fox Street, Poughkeepsie, NY.

This event, which is sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is free to register, but participants are encouraged to fundraise prior to the event.  Registrants are also encouraged to form or join a team. You can find information about fundraising when you register. Online registration ends at noon on Sept. 25th but you can register the morning of the Walk.

To register or for more information visit https://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=6920 Registrants who raise a minimum of $150 by 9/27 will receive an Out of the Darkness Walk  T shirt at check-in.

Walk Day Schedule:

9:00 am Check in and Registration

11:00 am Walk Program begins

1:30 pm  Walk ends

The Walk has a goal of $110,000 this year.

For more information, please contact:
Contact Name: Nicole Bybel
Contact Phone: 845-416-4285
Contact Email: dcucafsp@gmail.com

  • Proceeds from the Walks will help AFSP fulfill its mission: Fund scientific research
  • Offer educational programs for professionals
  • Educate the public about mood disorders and suicide prevention
  • Promote policies and legislation that impact suicide and prevention
  • Provide programs and resources for survivors of suicide loss and people at risk, and involve them in the work of the Foundation

Thank you to National Sponsor The Allergan Foundation.

To learn more visit afsp.org.

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I Missed the Point

I have blogged often about the large crowds that turn out for the many “Walk” fundraisers in the Tri-State area. Those throngs are a testament to the dedication of so many who support the fight against the plagues on humanity like Alzheimer’s, ALS, hunger, suicide and many more- too many more.
But I’ve missed the point. The true value here is not in the crowds that walk for these causes but in the individuals.
You see, each individual in that crowd is a fundraiser. For reasons of their own – often they’ve lost a loved one to a disease, they labor for months before the first step of the Walk. They solicit friends, family, neighbors and coworkers for pledges. They set up fundraising pages to reach a wider audience. Each person’s devotion to the cause is the reason for the success of the Walk, and their aggregate can add up to stunning financial results.
Here are some of those folks who are fundraising for their causes along with links to their fundraising pages. If you have the ability to help any or all of these causes, bless your heart! You will not only be participating in worthy causes, you will be helping to bolster the resolve of these good people in their efforts.
Nicole Roy is raising money for the ALS Foundation . Nicole Roy and Team Roy have participated for eight years in the Ride to Defeat ALS . Nicole lost her father Paul to ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Her link is https://www.facebook.com/donate/1191671207873585/10219707843141627/.
Marlane White and Tina Hogan are both deeply involved in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Not only will they be walking , they have worked tirelessly to organize the event . Its success will be due largely to their efforts.
Thomas Sherwood is walking with Team Joey in the Out of the Darkness Community Walk to support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Thomas lost his brother Joey to suicide. You can find his fundraiser at https://afsp.donordrive.com/participant/Thomas-Sherwood.
And Amy Truax will be walking in the Northwest CT CROP Hunger Walk which will be held virtually this year. Without the energy and connection that comes with a “live” event, it will be all the more important to support individuals like Amy to make these virtual Walks successful. Amy’s link is https://www.crophungerwalk.org/falls…/SheffieldAshleyFalls.
To find details about these and other worthy sports-related fundraisers visit http://sportingacause.com/ .
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The Color of Loss

September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, and there are upcoming Out of the Darkness Walks to Prevent Suicide sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.  Last year I attended one of their events, and this is what I found.

 

Most of the people wore strands of brightly colored beads around their necks. There were white ones and red and gold and orange and silver and green and blue and teal. Each color held specific meaning.

All of these people, nearly 500 of them, had gathered to celebrate the lives of loved ones lost to suicide, and the beads represented the nature of the their loss. White designated the loss of a child, red meant the loss of a spouse, gold a parent , orange a sibling and so on. The beads color-coded their pain.

This  was the  Out of The Darkness Walk to Prevent Suicide, one of 400  held nationwide  by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to support survivors of suicide and work to end it.

The Walk was billed as a celebration of the lives of those who are gone by those who remain. One of the speakers addressed the seeming conflict of joy amid such pain.

“How can we feel such profound gratitude and such profound sadness at the same time?” she asked. Everyone there seemed to know. There were tears, as people stood at the microphone and explained their color “I am wearing orange because I lost my brother- my best friend”.

“I wear silver today because I lost military- a couple of them”.

“I’m wearing white because I lost my twin sons” -both of them.

Bertha, one of the event organizers, wore nearly every color- father, child and other loved ones- all lost . And she wore green to represent her own struggles with suicide.

Yes there were tears but also smiles and hugs and laughter and camaraderie. And that of course was the answer to the question- that amid that profound sadness, they could  feel gratitude because they all had the support of each other- they all understood.

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States at the rate of 129 people a day.

There will be an Out of the Darkness Walk to Prevent Suicide on Sept. 29th  on the Walkway Over the Hudson in Poughkeepsie and one on October 5th at The Common in Pittsfield, MA.

Find details at sportingAcause.com.

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The Color of Loss

Most of the people wore strands of brightly colored beads around their necks. There were white ones and red and gold and orange and silver and green and blue and teal. Each color held specific meaning.

All of these people, nearly 500 of them, had gathered to celebrate the lives of loved ones lost to suicide, and the beads represented the nature of the their loss. White designated the loss of a child, red meant the loss of a spouse, gold a parent , orange a sibling and so on. The beads color-coded their pain.

The turnout last Saturday at Monument Mountain High School was for Out of The Darkness Walk to Prevent Suicide, one of 400 such events held around the country by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to support survivors of suicide and work to end it.

The Walk was billed as a celebration of the lives of those who are gone by those who remain. One of the speakers addressed the seeming conflict of joy amid such pain.

“How can we feel such profound gratitude and such profound sadness at the same time?” she asked. Everyone there seemed to know. There were tears, as people stood at the microphone and explained their color “I am wearing orange because I lost my brother- my best friend”.

“I wear silver today because I lost military- a couple of them”.

“I’m wearing white because I lost my twin sons” -both of them.

Bertha, one of the event organizers, wore nearly every color- father, child and other loved ones- all lost . And she wore green to represent her own struggles with suicide.

Yes there were tears but also smiles and hugs and laughter and camaraderie. And that of course was the answer to the question- that amid that profound sadness, they could feel gratitude because they all had the support of each other- they all understood.

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States.

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Out of the Darkness Columbia-Greene Walk

The Out of the Darkness Columbia-Greene Walk will be held Saturday, September 15, 2018 at River Front Park, 1-499 Water St., Hudson, NY 12534.

This event, which is sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), is free to register, but participants are encouraged to fundraise prior to the event. Registrants are also encouraged to form or join a team. You can find information about fundraising when you register. Online registration ends at noon on Sept. 14th but you can register the morning of the Walk.

To register or for more information visit afsp.org/columbiagreene.

Registrants who raise a minimum of $150 will receive an event T shirt. Visit the website to find prizes for higher fundraising efforts.

Walk Day Schedule:

Refreshments

10:00 am Registration

11:00 am Opening Ceremony, Walk begins

There will be a way station with water at the Hudson Opera House on Warren St.

Walk participants are encouraged to visit the “Picturing Mental Health” exhibit at the Davis Orton Gallery on Warren St.

Proceeds from the event will allow AFSP to invest in new research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss. AFSP has been able to set a goal to reduce the annual suicide rate 20% by 2025.

The AFSP Columbia-Greene has set a Walk goal of $12,500 for this year.

In 2016 the national organization hosted over 400 events in all 50 states.

Currently, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States.

For more information call Marc Clark at (518) 929-6206 or email mtcolts72@gmail.com.

Thank you to these generous sponsors:

Hudson River Bank and Trust Co.

Edward Jones

Furniture Plus

Kneeler Insurance Agency

Williams Lumber

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