Bay Area Out of the Darkness Walk

Employees from UnitedHealthcare were proud to participate in the Bay Area Out of the Darkness Walk, held this past Saturday, September 22nd at Mission Creek Park in San Francisco. Many of the employee volunteers from UnitedHealthcare who walked in support of mental health awareness work in Behavioral Health services as mental health clinicians. The Out of the Darkness community walks occur in 400 locations across the US and have more than 225,000 participants. The walks gather those who are personally touched by suicide and mental illness and those who just seek to support and raise awareness in the community.

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US, with rates rising since 2006. Yet suicide prevention doesn't receive the same level of funding or awareness as other leading causes of death. The Out of the Darkness Community Walk raises awareness on suicide and depression, encourages funding for research and education to prevent suicide from taking place, and provides assistance and a safe outlet for survivors of suicide.