Out of the Darkness

The University of Michigan chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is hosting their second annual Out of the Darkness (OOTD) walk on Sunday, April 8th, 2018 at Ferry Field. OOTD walks are held to raise awareness and support those impacted by suicide loss. Across the country, they serve to incite conversation about mental health in many cities and campuses, and they provide a space for folks impacted by suicide to find a community of understanding and support. They are driven by fundraising; half of the money raised is allocated to the national organization to continue their leading suicide prevention research, educational programs, and advocacy platforms to push for policy which is inclusive of mental health and suicide prevention philosophies. The second half of the money is spent in the community or on the campus that it is raised (in our case, on UM campus), to host and facilitate suicide educational programs, Mental Health First Aid Trainings, events for survivors of suicide loss, and much more. At their last walk, they raised over $33,000. This year, they are aiming to reach $50,000.

People from all backgrounds and levels of experience with suicide and suicide loss are welcome to all of the events and to the Out of the Darkness walk. Registering is free, and participating in the walk is a great way to engage friends, family, and coworkers in this important conversation. Visit afsp.org/umich to register, donate, and learn more about the organization.