Work is now beginning for the 2010 Miss-Lou Out of the Darkness Community Walk for Suicide Prevention and Depression Awareness.

This organization works under the leadership of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, which is based out of New York, and has a goal of raising money for research into the areas of depression and suicide prevention.

It is also for helping those left behind after a suicide occurs. Sadly, our community has experienced this tragedy firsthand far too much recently.

The Out of the Darkness walk has been at Duncan Park in Natchez for the past two years in November, but this year, we will move the walk to the Vidalia Riverfront and have it from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 13. We wanted to have the event in a more noticeable place for the public to see.

Please, whether you have lost someone to suicide or not, consider being a part of this event.

We need people to help with planning, we need people to form teams to walk with us and we need sponsors.

As far as forming teams goes, while we definitely want teams to try and raise money, there is no minimum amount required of a team. There is no fee to form a team.  Individuals can also be a part of this event without being a part of a team if they wish.

This year we plan to do a lot more ahead of time as far as fundraising and getting the word out.

We would like to see churches form teams as a ministry outreach to hurting people. We would like to see schools form teams as a way of children supporting each other.

We also plan on getting a support group started as soon as we can for “survivors” to meet.

Survivors are those left behind after a suicide — whether they lost a child, a spouse, a parent, a grandparent, a friend, etc. All survivors are hurting and they all need the support of each other.

If you would like more information, please contact me through The Democrat and let me know. I would be more than happy to answer any questions.

Erin Sessions Frith

local event coordinator, Out of the Darkness Community Walks – American Foundation for Suicide Prevention