Walworth County will host is second Out of the Darkness Walk, a nationwide suicide-prevention event, Oct. 1 at the Walworth County Fairgrounds.
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, yet suicide is preventable, according to event organizers. Last year more than 400 people from throughout Walworth County and beyond participated in the first Walworth County Out of the Darkness Walk, and this year at the second annual walk organizers hope to have even more people participate.
The fundraising walk supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s local and national education and advocacy programs and with the goal of reducing the annual rate of suicide 20 percent by 2025. Proceeds from the event are used for suicide research, funding suicide prevention programs, advocating for suicide prevention policies and supporting survivors of suicide loss.
Registration will begin at 8 a.m. and the walk, at 9 a.m. Oct. 1 at the fairgrounds. Registration can be completed at OutOfTheDarkness.org by clicking on “find an event” or searching for Out of the Darkness Walworth County Walk on Facebook. Participants may also register in person at the event.
The walk is hosted by the newly formed Walworth County Suicide Prevention Education and Awareness Coalition, known as W-SPEAC or “we speak.” W-SPEAC was formed as a result of the first Out of the Darkness Walk in Walworth County last year. Before that, Walworth County was one of the only counties in Wisconsin without a suicide prevention group. W-SPEAC has since combined with the Walworth County Community Health Improvement Plan Depression and Suicide Work Group and created a four-year plan for preventing suicide in Walworth County. The Out of the Darkness walk is one way to raise funds to implement the suicide prevention plan since up to half the money raised can be spent locally.
“We walk to raise awareness about this important health issue. Suicide touches one in five American families. We hope that by walking, we save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide,” said Christine Hanson, chairman of the Walworth County Out of the Darkness Walk and W-SPEAC member.
The Walworth County Out of the Darkness Walk is one of more than 375 Out of the Darkness community walks being held nationwide this year. The walks are expected to unite more than 250,000 walkers and raise millions for suicide prevention efforts. Last year, the Walworth County Out of the Darkness Walk raised more than $28,000.
Speakers at the Walworth County Out of the Darkness Walk will include a representative from Walworth County Health and Human Services, a community member personally affected by suicide and a W-SPEAC member to share local statistics about suicide in the area.
“These walks are about turning hope into action,” said Robert Gebbia, chief executive officer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “Suicide is a serious problem, but it’s a problem we can solve. The research has shown us how to fight suicide, and, if we keep up the fight, the science is only going to get better, our culture will get smarter about mental health, and we’ll be able to save more people from dying from depression and other mental health conditions.”
Local sponsors for the Walworth County Out of the Darkness community walk include Mercy Health, Komfort Heating and Cooling Inc., Grand Geneva, Lake Geneva Harley Davidson, Korey’s Auto Kare, Kuehn and Flitcroft, Northwestern Mutual and Verlo Mattress Factory.
