SPRINGFIELD, IL (Chambana Today) – The people of Springfield will be participating in the Out of the Darkness (OOTD) Springfield Illinois Community Walk in support of those who have been impacted by suicide.
The walk offers opportunities for individuals who have been affected by suicide to connect with and support one another. It is hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and will start on Saturday, September 21 at 2:00p.m. at the University of Illinois Springfield Student Union, 2251 Richard Wright Drive, Springfield, IL. The community walks in Illinois raise more than $400,000 annually and are split between Illinois and national efforts.
“The Illinois Out of the Darkness Walk is important to me because it provides a safe space for people to come together, support one another, and talk about the importance of mental health and suicide prevention,” said Rae Anne Dutz, Springfield Community Walk Chair
Suicide has affected 54% of Americans in 2021 with an estimated 1.7 million suicide attempts in the United States. It is the third leading cause of death for individuals ages 10 to 34 years old and suicide attempts occur 132 per day on average.
For more information on community walks, visit www.afsp.org/ILTogether. For more information on American Foundation for Suicide Prevention go to www.afsp.org.