By Jackie Roberts
Staff Writer
“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” – Edith Wharton
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), suicide claims approximately 13.7 lives every minute in the U.S. That adds up to more than 38,000 lives each year. 38,000 is not just a number; it is our friends, families — even people we pass in the hallway.
Across the country, Out of the Darkness Community Walks take place to raise money for suicide prevention. Net proceeds from the walks benefit the AFSP.
The AFSP is the leading national not-for-profit organization dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide.
Tomorrow morning, students and community members can support the AFSP by attending and/or raising money for the Out of Darkness Walk taking place at the Olean Intermediate Middle School track.
“The walk is an opportunity for people to come together and combat the stigma that is associated with suicide,” Amy Hohman, a top fundraiser for the walk, said. “It is an opportunity for people to be educated about suicide and the different resources that are available to them throughout the community.”
This walk will be the first suicide prevention walk to take place in Cattaraugus County.
“The walk is being held with the Cattaraugus County Suicide Prevention Coalition,” Hohman said. “This coalition has been in existence for one year this month and the co-facilitators and walk chairs who are putting this walk together are myself, a current SBU student and Meghan Monahan, a two-time SBU alumna.”
Suicide may seem like a distant topic for many. However, suicide is a very prevalent concern in Cattaraugus County, according to Hohman.
“We need to work on letting individuals know that it is okay to ask for help and we need people to know where they can go get the help that they need,” she said. “We also need to assist those who have lost a loved one to suicide get the help that they need in order to grieve and get through such a difficult time.”
Cattaraugus County’s Out of the Darkness Walk has raised roughly $2,000 toward its goal of $5,000. People can donate at the walk or by going online to the AFSP’s website at www.afsp.org/walk and donating under the Cattaraugus County Community Walk.
Registration for the walk begins at 9 a.m., and the walk will be held from 10 a.m. to noon. A few hours of your time could make a difference to even one person questioning suicide.
In the spirit of Wharton, take this opportunity to be the candle or mirror that leads someone toward the light, and out of the darkness.
