The community event is designed to create a welcoming place for people to honor loved ones, support one another and take part in a shared commitment to suicide prevention. Check-in is scheduled for 3 p.m., followed by the walk at 4 p.m. Participation is free, although advance registration is encouraged through the organization’s Morris County Walk page.
Out of the Darkness walks are noncompetitive community gatherings. Participants may walk with a team, join as individuals, volunteer or support the effort through donations. AFSP notes that its community walks generally include a one- to three-mile route along with an opening ceremony, activities focused on hope and healing, resource tables and opportunities for participants to recognize the people and experiences that have brought them to the event.
The walk is part of AFSP’s wider work to advance suicide prevention through research, education, advocacy and community programs. Funds raised through the Morris County event support those efforts, including resources for schools, workplaces and communities across New Jersey.
The event is not limited to people who have experienced a loss. It also offers a way for residents who care about mental-health awareness and prevention to show up for their neighbors, learn about available resources and help reduce the isolation that can surround difficult conversations.
Residents can find registration, team, volunteer and donation information at afsp.org/morriscounty or through the official walk page. Anyone experiencing a mental-health or suicide crisis can contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.