Out of the Darkness walk

Unfortunately for the most part all of us have been in the situation to have someone in our life take their own life. It really is sad how often it happens. Within the last year I have lost two people I cared about very much to this sadness. If someone in your life or maybe it is even you there is help. Life is precious. Know that people love and care for each other. This is why the Out Of The Darkness Walk For Suicide is so important for all of us to be apart of. This is a great sum up the event and the impact suicide has on our community from the Billings Gazette.

The 9th annual Out of Darkness Walk for Suicide Prevention is scheduled for Sept. 16 at Veterans Park 13th Street West and Poly Drive in Billings. The event is hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and its Montana AFSP Chapter and the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Yellowstone Valley.

The walk is the primary fundraiser for the AFSP Check-in, activities and program will take place from 12:30 – 2 p.m., and the walk begins 2 p.m.

Montana now has the highest rate of suicide in the nation. For the past three years, the state has been among the top three states for that grim statistic. For the past three decades, the state has been among the top five worst states per capita for suicides. Local statistics are equally disturbing. A Community Health Assessment survey in Yellowstone County in 2010 indicated about one in 10 Yellowstone County residents reported considering suicide at some point. Of those individuals, 17.8 percent indicated they had contemplated attempting suicide within the last year. Those discouraging figures are on the rise, climbing from 8.1 percent of participants in a Community Health Assessment survey done in 2005 who had ever considered suicide to 10.2 percent in 2010 who reported that they had considered attempting suicide at some point. Education is a key tool in preventing suicide. Suicide Prevention Awareness Week, from Sept. 9-16, is one way to educate the public about suicide devastating toll in our state. The awareness week culminates Sept. 16 with the Out of the Darkness Walk.

For more information, call River Stone Health 247-3200

Filed Under: Out of the Darkness Walk, suicide prevention

Categories: Events, Health