More than 500 people throughout Monmouth County are expected to come out to Manasquan to benefit suicide prevention. Did you know that in our state, one person dies by suicide every 12.18 hours?

Suicide touches millions each year, taking an enormous toll on family, friends, co-works and the entire community. The Out of the Darkness Community Walk on September 20th will take place along the boardwalk in Manasquan to support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

This is one of over 300 Out of the Darkness Community Walks being held this fall nationwide. The walks have united hundreds of thousands of walkers nationally and have raised close to $10 million for suicide prevention efforts.

This walk is about reducing the stigma of suicide and the underlying mental disorders that can sometimes lead to it. The money raised funds research and local prevention programs.

The 4th Annual Jersey Shore community walk will begin at Leggett's Sand Bar on First Ave. Registration and check-in will begin at 9 am and the Walk will start at 10 am. Participants will walk from Leggett's down the Manasquan boardwalk and then return for a buffet lunch compliments of Leggett's.

The goal this year is to raise $50,000 while walking to save lives and to honor loved ones.

It is estimated that close to 1 million people in America make a suicide attempt, more than 38,000 die by suicide, and more than 20 million suffer from depression each year.

Every 14 minutes someone dies by suicide in the US. This walk is meant to offer hope to the millions of people who have lost a loved one to suicide or who battle personally with depression, bipolar illness, addiction, and other mental illnesses.

Suicide can be prevented. You can help. Register here and Join the Movement!

AFSP 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, CLICK HERE.

Money raised goes to:

--Funding current research into genetic, biological, behavioral factors and prevention and treatment

-- Studies on treating complicated grief among survivors of suicide loss

-- Sharing "After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools", which provides information, tools and guidance to schools that have been touched by suicide

and so much more.

 

 

 

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