Did you know that National Suicide Prevention Week is September 5-11, 2021 and that Friday, September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day? Never has there been a more critical time to continue to erase the stigma around suicide and mental illness and get this conversation on the table to help everyone in need. Suicide is preventable! We have come a long way and there is still so much more work to do to save and improve lives. Please join us as we bring awareness and light to suicide prevention on Saturday, October 16th, 2021 at Battery Park in Burlington at 9:00 am (registration begins at 8:30 am). You can find more information here www.afsp.org/burlington and on Facebook, AFSP Out of the Darkness Page.
In Vermont, there is a suicide every three days, it is the 8th leading cause of death in the State, and the 2nd for those aged 10-34. Between 1996-2016, our State's suicide rate went up 48%— that's the 2nd highest increase nationally. And in 2020 in Vermont, there were 12 times as many people who died by suicide than in alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents.
When you walk in one of the over 400 Out of the Darkness Walks nationwide, you join the effort across the nation 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 at a local level. Thanks to this incredible effort, AFSP has been able to set a goal to reduce the annual suicide rate 20% by 2025.
If you know of anyone in immediate crisis, please have them call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text TALK to 741741. Let them know they are not alone, they are precious to so many, and there is hope. We are united for them and for a world without suicide. Please also visit www.vtspc.org to see the amazing work of the Vermont Suicide Prevention Center.
For more information on the October 16th Out of the Darkness walk, please contact:
Debbie Babbie at babbds@comcast.net
or
Heather White, Area Director, Western Mass and Vermont Chapters
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
413-387-3770
hwhite@afsp.org
Thank you for helping us shine the light,
Ashley McAvey
Shelburne, Vermont
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