Roanoke College Holds the Out of Darkness Walk for Suicide Prevention

On October 1st, the Out of Darkness Walk will be held at Roanoke College. The purpose of the Out of the Darkness walk is to eliminate the stigma of mental illness and suicide, and to raise awareness that suicide is preventable, and that no one needs to struggle alone. . While there is no charge to attend, or participate in, the walk, it is a fundraiser. All funds raised during this event will go to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to assist in research and trainings to meet these goals. These walks are held around the country and have created a safe space for many people to open up about mental health.

In today’s world, mental health is an important topic of discussion. Not only have more people opened up about mental health but they have also made it their priority. In the past, hustle culture was the norm, and many were taught to keep their feelings hidden. The rise of Gen Z has challenged this topic and created ways to destigmatize how to talk about mental health.

The community walks, held in hundreds of cities across the country, are the core of the Out of the Darkness movement, which began in 2004. These events give people the courage to open up about their own connections to the cause, and a platform to create a culture that is smarter about mental health. Friends, family members, neighbors and coworkers walk side-by-side, supporting each other and in memory of those who have been lost.

The Out of Darkness walk will be held at the Cregger Center from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. You can pre-register at http://afsp.org/walk. You can register as a walker, a team, or as a virtual walker if you are not able to attend. If you are not able to register online, walk-in registry will begin at 9:00 a.m. Most importantly, this is a FREE event! Please be prepared to listen or share and help the fight for mental illness.