Out of the Darkness Community Walks
The Community Walks, held in hundreds of communities across the country, are the core of the Out of the Darkness movement, which began in 2004. These events give people the courage to open up about their own connections to the cause, and a platform to create a culture that’s smarter about mental health. Friends, family members, neighbors and coworkers walk side-by-side, supporting each other and in memory of those we’ve lost.
Every dollar you raise through the Out of the Darkness Walks allows AFSP to invest in life-saving research, education, advocacy, and support for those impacted by suicide. To save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide, it's more important than ever to stay connected.
About the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
AFSP 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.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
With your support, we will continue to meet the needs of the community and ensure our programs remain available to those we serve. Here are just a few recent examples:
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Through our chapters across the country, AFSP has delivered more than 500 suicide prevention education and loss and healing programs, including Talk Saves Lives.
- Advocated for the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act, which named 9-8-8 the three-digit, easy-to-remember suicide hotline number.
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Funded 38 new suicide prevention research studies since the pandemic, bringing our total current investment to $20 million, with 100 ongoing studies.
About Suicide
Suicide is a public health problem and a leading cause of death in the United States. Suicide can be prevented — more investment in suicide prevention, education, research, and advocacy can help save lives.
Facts about suicide in the U.S.*:
·Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S.
- In 2022, 49,476 Americans died by suicide
- In 2022, there were an estimated 1.6M suicide attempts.
- In 2022, men died by suicide 3.85 times more often than women.
- In 2022, firearms accounted for 54.64% of all suicide deaths.
- 94% of adults surveyed in the U.S. think suicide can be prevented.
view videos from leading suicide researchers
*Learn the latest published statistics on suicide from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Data & Statistics Fatal Injury Report for 2022, retrieved May 11, 2024. Access additional verified data from the CDC.
If you are in crisis, call the 988 Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 74174. AFSP does not provide its own crisis hotline service.
