The Fairfax County 911 Call Center team before the start of the Out of the Darkness Fairfax Walk. Photo by Tom Manning
The Out of the Darkness Fairfax Walk to fight suicide occurred on Oct. 5 in Fairfax. The Fairfax Walk began at Fairfax City Hall and continued through the surrounding neighborhoods. The two-mile journey brought the community together and drew attention to the ways in which suicide and mental illness have affected their lives and loved ones. More than $100,000 was raised by 90 teams and 718 participants for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to use towards new research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss. AFSP has set a goal to reduce the annual suicide rate 20 percent by 2025. The best way to prevent suicide is through early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of depression and other mental health conditions.