Register today for the Hamden Out of the Darkness Community Walk

[Hamden, Conn. – September 25, 2016] – Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, yet suicide is preventable. More than 1,000 people from throughout Hamden and the greater New Haven area are expected to participate in the annual Hamden Out of the Darkness Community Walk hosted by the Southern Connecticut chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) at 12:30 p.m., Sunday September 25, 2016 at Hamden Town Center Park (next to 2623 Dixwell Avenue). This fundraising walk supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s local and national education and advocacy programs and its bold goal to reduce the annual rate of suicide 20 percent by 2025.

“We walk to raise awareness about this important health issue. Suicide touches one in five American families. We hope that by walking we save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide,” said Emily McCave, Hamden Walk co-chair and President of the Southern Connecticut chapter of the AFSP.

The Hamden Out of the Darkness Walk is one of more than 375 Out of the Darkness Community Walks being held nationwide this year. The walks are expected to unite more than 250,000 walkers and raise millions for suicide prevention efforts. With this walk last year, the AFSP Southern Connecticut chapter raised approximately $86,000 and had more than 1,200 participants. Half of the money raised from the walk goes toward funding local suicide prevention programming in Southern Connecticut.

AFSP Southern Connecticut would like to recognize iHeart Radio, the Imperial Sovereign Court of All CT, and Bearingstar Insurance as the Platinum Sponsors of the Hamden Out of the Darkness Walk. A personality from local iHeart Radio station KC101 will be on hand to emcee the event.

To register for this year’s walk, visit http://afsp.donordrive.com/event/hamden.

“These walks are about turning hope into action,” said AFSP CEO Robert Gebbia. “Suicide is a serious problem, but it’s a problem we can solve. The research has shown us how to fight suicide, and if we keep up the fight the science is only going to get better, our culture will get smarter about mental health, and we’ll be able to save more people from dying from depression and other mental health conditions.”

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. AFSP creates a culture that’s smart about mental health through education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, and with a public policy office in Washington, D.C., AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states with programs and events nationwide. Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report, and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.