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The Out of the Darkness suicide prevention and awareness fundraiser held Saturday, Sept. 21 at College Street Elementary School collected over $23,326 and had 245 participants and 26 teams of walkers.

Organizer Deidra Goins said the event is a community outreach for the Tennessee Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

“It’s all about building community and destigmatizing the issue of suicide and mental health,” Goins said.

She urged anyone who needs immediate help to call the nationwide suicide prevention hotline by dialing 988 or go to American Foundation for Suicide Prevention website for links to immediate resources.

Hailey Drake, Tennessee Area Director for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention said the walks help bring communities together and provide support

“Today you are joining a growing group of Americans walking to stop suicide,” Drake said.

She said her organization provides research grants, community education programs, public policy avocation and loss and healing programs.

Goins encouraged those who attended the event, many of whom have lost a loved one to suicide.

“You come year after year, you’re on your path forward,” Goins said. “I hope that today when you walk shoulder to shoulder with every step you take I hope you recognize, ‘I am on my path and I have found my way,”

According to statistics veterans are particularly at risk for suicide. The statistics have gone down over the last few years but still on average 17.6 veterans die by suicide each day.

“We think being connected to care and having resources available does help,” VA suicide prevention coordinator Amy Vawter said. “Combat brings with it post-traumatic stress disorder and the VA does offer a lot of evidence-based treatment that are specific for trauma.”