The walk is one of hundreds held in cities across the country that are the core of the Out of the Darkness movement, which began in 2004.

Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. with the walk beginning at 10 a.m. People may also pre-register for this year’s walk at supporting.afsp.org or on the Out of the Darkness Walk-Jamestown, NY Facebook event page.
For more information about the Suicide Prevention Alliance of Chautauqua County, visit its website at preventsuicidechq.com

Pictured above, Jamestown Out of the Darkness Walk Co-Chairs. From left to right: Jennifer Baker, Lorene Benjamin, and Wendy Switzer.

JAMESTOWN – Community members from all over the Chautauqua region are expected to participate in the upcoming Out of the Darkness Community Walk in Jamestown on Saturday, October 13.

The fundraising walk supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) by helping support local suicide prevention and awareness programs right here in Chautauqua County.

The Jamestown Out of the Darkness Community Walk will take place at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in downtown Jamestown, with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. and the walk beginning at 10 a.m.

To register, go to www.outofthedarkness.org and click on find an event to search and register for the Jamestown Out of the Darkness Community Walk.

The Jamestown walk is one of hundreds of Out of the Darkness Community Walks being held across all 50 states this fall. The walks are expected to unite more than a quarter of a million walkers nationally and raise more than $15 million for suicide prevention and research efforts.

“The Out of the Darkness AFSP suicide prevention walk has helped me immensely to heal after my father’s suicide,” said Wendy Switzer, Wall Co-Chair. “The most important factor to me personally is to spread awareness if sharing my story with others will help someone choose a different path. I want people to realize how much it affects the survivors.”

The goal for this year’s Jamestown walk is to raise $28,000. When you walk in the Out of the Darkness Walks, you join the effort with hundreds of thousands of people to raise awareness and funds that allow the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to invest in new research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss.

“There are numerous ways you can participate even if you are not able to attend in person,” said Annie Rosenthal, Public Relations Coordinator at Chautauqua Tapestry. “Donations can be made by going to www.outofthedarkness.org and clicking on find an event to search for the Jamestown walk. Those interested in becoming a sponsor of the event can contact Missy at MStolfi@afsp.org. We are also seeking baskets for the raffle and baked goods.”

The Community Alliance for Suicide Prevention, the local suicide awareness and prevention coalition within Chautauqua County, is organizing the walk with other local organizations including the WNY Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Chautauqua Tapestry, Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene, and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Free coffee coupons will be given to all walk attendees courtesy of the Labyrinth Press Co.

Many passionate community members are also involved in the organization and planning of the Jamestown walk.

“The walk is so important because so many people, who need this support and awareness in their life, learn of it once it’s too late,” said Jennifer Baker, Walk Co-Chair. “We want this topic to be talked about until it’s not a taboo thing and people who are struggling won’t be afraid to tell someone they need help.”

“Spreading awareness for suicide prevention has become an important part in my life as I have had family members die by suicide as well as friends that I’m extremely close to have lost family members to suicide,” said Lorene Benjamin, Walk Co-Chair. “ I want others to know what help that is available to them in the community. Never be afraid to ask for help.”

“The group is continually working on putting together trainings on topics of suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention that will be available to local organizations, agencies, schools and community members,” said Victoria Patti, coordinator of the Community Alliance. “Our goal is to create a change in the way we currently look at suicide and eliminate the stigma surrounding the topic as a whole. We hope that the end result of increased education will be a reduction in the number of suicides in our community. The over-arching mission is to eliminate occurrences of suicide all together. Suicide has devastating effects on so many people. There needs to be better understanding regarding its causes and prevention. There is so much misinformation surrounding the topic of suicide and the underlying mental disorders that can sometimes lead to suicide. The Out of the Darkness Community Walk is aimed at raising awareness and eliminating that stigma.”

“In 2018, we have seen increased attention across the nation to the topics of mental health and suicide, and it truly feels we are reaching a turning point in terms of how we view and talk about these crucial health issues in our communities,” said Missy Stolfi, Area Director of Western & Central New York, AFSP. “Walks such as this are essential in increasing the visibility of those who live with mental health conditions, and help reduce the dangers of stigma. We at AFSP are grateful for each member of our community who raises their voice through the Jamestown Out of the Darkness Walk in order to put a human face to mental health, and help save lives from suicide.”

About the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is the leading national not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy as well as to reaching out to people with mental disorders and those impacted by suicide. For more information please visit www.afsp.org.

The event is being held by the Community Alliance for Suicide Prevention in conjunction with Suicide Prevention Week in Chautauqua County. Alliance Chair Victoria Patti says it’s held each year to support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention by helping support local programs in Chautauqua County.

“We’re really excited for this year’s sixth annual walk and we hope that it’s really well attended,” explained Patti during a recent interview with WRFA. “Last year we had close to 500 community members attend the walk and we hope that just as many come out this year to walk in memory of someone that they’ve lost or just to support the cause.”

The goal for this year’s walk is to raise $30,000.

Registration for Saturday’s Out of the Darkness event begins at 9 a.m. with the walk beginning at 10 a.m. To register, visit OutOfTheDarkness.org.

SUICIDE HELP: People in crisis can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.

The Jamestown Out of the Darkness Walk is one of hundreds of Out of the Darkness Community Walks being held across all 50 states this fall. The walks are expected to unite more than a quarter of a million walkers nationally and raise more than $15 million for suicide prevention efforts.

“We are so excited to announce that Jamestown City Mayor Samuel Teresi will be opening up the Walk this year, with a special proclamation and message,” said Ann Rosenthal, Public Relations Coordinator of Chautauqua Tapestry.

So far, over $18,000 has been raised for the walk by local business and community members. The goal for this year’s walk is to raise $30,000. This year’s sponsors include Jamestown Advanced Products; Cummins; Woman’s Christian Association of Jamestown;  R-Patti Concrete & Excavating; Artone, LLC; Randolph Peaches N Cream; The Leone Family; John C Nelson Group; Family Health Medical Services, PLLC; Fessenden, Laumer, and Deangelo Attorneys at Law; Lake Shore Behavioral Health; Wegmans; Media One Group; and Randolph Auto Supply.

The Community Alliance for Suicide Prevention, the local suicide awareness and prevention coalition within Chautauqua County, is organizing the walk with other local organizations including the Chautauqua County Early Identification and Recognition Program, Chautauqua Tapestry, Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene, and many passionate community members.

“The group is continually working on putting together trainings on topics of suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention that will be available to local organizations, agencies, schools and community members,” said Victoria Patti, co-coordinator of the Community Alliance. “Our goal is to create a change in the way we currently look at suicide and eliminate the stigma surrounding the topic as a whole. We hope that the end result of increased education will be a reduction in the number of suicides in our community. The over-arching mission is to eliminate occurrences of suicide all together. Suicide has devastating effects on so many people. There needs to be better understanding regarding its causes and prevention.  There is so much misinformation surrounding the topic of suicide and the underlying mental disorders that can sometimes lead to suicide. The Out of the Darkness Community Walk is aimed at raising awareness and eliminating that stigma.”

The Jamestown Out of the Darkness Community Walk will take place at Northwest Arena, formally known as the Jamestown Savings Bank Arena, with registration beginning at 9 a.m. and the walk beginning at 10 a.m. To register, go to www.outofthedarkness.org and click on find an event to search and register for the Jamestown Out of the Darkness Community Walk.

“After cancer and heart disease, suicide accounts for more years of life lost than any other cause of death,” said Sarah Clark, Western New York Area Director of AFSP. “This fall, thousands will be walking to raise money for prevention and awareness, and offer hope to millions of people who have lost a loved one to suicide or who battle personally with depression, bipolar illness, addiction and other mental illnesses,” continued Clark.

About the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is the leading national not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy as well as to reaching out to people with mental disorders and those impacted by suicide. For more information please visit www.afsp.org.

The fundraising walk supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) by helping support local suicide prevention and awareness programs right here in Chautauqua County. The goal for this year is to raise at least $10,000.

This walk is being organized by the local suicide awareness and prevention coalition within Chautauqua County called The Community Alliance for Suicide Prevention.

The Jamestown community walk will take place at Tracy Plaza, City Hall with registration from 9 to 10 a.m. and the walk beginning around 10:05 a.m.  To register, go to www.outofthedarkness.org and go to the Jamestown walk page.

The fundraising walk supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) by helping support local suicide prevention and awareness programs right here in Chautauqua County. The goal for this year is to raise at least $10,000.

The Jamestown Out of the Darkness Walk is one of the nearly 250 Out of the Darkness Community Walks being held this fall nationwide. The walks are expected to unite more than 100,000 walkers nationally and raise more than $7.5 million for suicide prevention efforts.

The Jamestown community walk will take place at Tracy Plaza, City Hall with registration from 9 to 10 a.m. and the walk beginning around 10:05 a.m.  To register, go to www.outofthedarkness.org and go to the Jamestown walk page.

This walk is being organized by the local suicide awareness and prevention coalition within Chautauqua County called The Community Alliance for Suicide Prevention. The Alliance is made up of members from various organizations such as Chautauqua Tapestry, Chautauqua County Mental Hygiene, Compeer Chautauqua, WCA Hospital, Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc. Mobile Crisis Team, Crisis Services, Hospice Chautauqua County, State University of New York at Fredonia, The Resource Center, New York State Office of Mental Health, Mental Health Association, Early Identification and Recognition Program with Chautauqua County Mental Hygiene, Family Services of the Chautauqua Region, Inc., CASAC, Lutheran, Jamestown Community College, VA of WNY Health Care System and passionate community members.

More details on the Out of the Darkness Walk will be provided Thusday on WRFA when we discuss the event and the effort to raise awareness for suicide prevent during our weekly Community Matters program… which airs at 6pm here on WRFA.

The event is being coordinated by Chautauqua Tapestry, with proceeds benefiting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Chautauqua Tapestry spokesperson Lexi Bishop Baglia said that by walking in the Out of the Darkness Community Walks, participants will be walking with thousands of other walkers nationwide to raise money for research and education programs to prevent suicide.

To register for this event go to our event website http://afsp.donordrive.com/even/jamestown and click the “Register Now!” Button.  You can also make donations through the website.