Alabama Out of the Darkness Walk goes virtual this month

While the Alabama Out of the Darkness Walk is going to look different this year, the mission remains the same: to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.

The 2020 event will take place at 2 p.m. Nov. 8 as an online ceremony/program.

Last year, Birmingham was one of 424 walks throughout the county in which more than 350,000 walkers participated.

Marissa Grayson is chair of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Alabama chapter. She lost her father to suicide in 2005 and has been participating in the Out of the Darkness Walk since 2008. She said she initially started walking in memory of her dad, but has since watched other friends and family members struggle. Now, she said, “I walk for much more than just my dad.”

Grayson said one of the nice things about moving the event online is that it will be one event for the entire state. There are typically seven different community walks throughout Alabama, and this year they will all come together for one big Alabama chapter experience.

“We are trying to make sure we are serving the community,” Grayson said. “We still want there to be a component to encourage people to go out and walk and do something meaningful that would be good for their mental health.”

Grayson said there will still be some of the things that people have appreciated in the past, including an honor beads ceremony and the focus on a message of hope while providing support for suicide loss survivors.

With National Suicide Prevention Week taking place in September, Grayson said several small events leading up to the experience were still planned so people could be engaged.

“One of things we know about suicide is when people don’t feel connected, that can be problematic, and one of important factors is for them to have that connection,” she said.

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. A person dies by suicide once every 12.8 minutes in the United States, and every day, approximately 129 Americans take their own life. The best way to prevent suicide is through early detection, diagnosis and treatment of depression and other mental health conditions.

Registration is free and open to the public. Donations will be accepted until Dec. 31. This year’s goal is to raise $175,000. Those who would like to participate are encouraged to register at afsp.org/birmingham. Teams can also be formed. Anyone who raises $150 or more will receive a T-shirt.

“When the AFSP family comes together, people who understand the loss of suicide are reminded they are not alone,” Grayson said. “The slogan is together to fight suicide, and that really is what brings people back year after year. We are hoping not just to replicate that, but find ways to connect people across the state and enlarge the ASPC family.”