NORFOLK, Va. –
The 11th annual Out of the Darkness Community Walk is taking place at Mt. Trashmore Park in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Sept. 10 as a way for the community to remember those lost to suicide and give hope to those suffering from depression.
Registration for the event is now open at www.sos-walk.org and check in will take place at 8:30 a.m. the day of the event. Registration is required to ensure the event staff can adequately plan for the amount of food, drinks and informational materials needed.
Attendees should allow extra time to find parking. More details about the parking are available on the website above.
The Out of the Darkness Community Walk is a nation-wide event with more than 350 participating locations, but the Virginia Beach walk has been the largest for the past seven years, according to the walk’s website.
This year’s event is expected to have more than 8,000 participants with representation from all five branches of military service, said Chris Gilchrist, the event’s lead coordinator.
One of the goals of events like these is to let people know they are not alone.
“The biggest thing that you can do if someone is feeling suicidal or expresses suicidality to you is to make them feel heard,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Seth Bridges, 633rd Air Base Wing suicide prevention program manager. “Help them get a sense that they are not alone and that the burden they are feeling is not something they need to bear solely upon themselves.”
Among those attending to show this support will be military and civilian mental health professionals, who will be available to provide information to attendees.
The official events begin at 9:30 a.m. with a welcome message and several speakers, who will share their personal experiences with suicide and depression.
At 10:30 a.m. the walk begins at a curtain made of 1,000 origami cranes. The Hampton Roads Survivors of Suicide Support Group, who sponsor the walk along with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, chose the crane as a mascot because several cultures consider it a symbol of peace and hope.
After the walk, there will be a drawing at 12:00 p.m. where all registered participants are eligible to win a crane quilt donated by the Hampton Roads Survivors of Suicide Support Group.
The program will continue with live music at 12:30 p.m.
In addition to the events listed above, participants can hang pictures of loved ones on a memory wall, wear a colored armband provided by the event staff in remembrance, learn to fold paper cranes and decorate Frisbees.
These events are not only intended to help people to remember lost friends and family, but also to show those suffering from depression that there are people who care.
“It sounds trite and it sounds contrived, but there is hope,” said Bridges. “You are not alone; there are people that want to help. I encourage everyone who is suicidal to just come forward, and just talk to somebody.”
Those wishing to volunteer at the event or organize a group to walk may call (757) 483-5111.
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, visit www.af.mil/SuicidePrevention.aspx for helpful resources.