Hundreds walk to support suicide prevention during Suicide Prevention Month

Arcata, Ca., (KIEM) Sunday was a sober but joyous day in Arcata. Hundreds of Humboldt residents woke up ready to walk in honor of suicide prevention.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in Humboldt County and San Francisco hosted the 4th Annual Arcata Out of the Darkness Community Walk to raise awareness and funds that allow the AFSP to invest in new research, programs, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss.

Before the walk, many shared their personal testimonies from losing loved ones too soon to battles of their own.

Heather Freitas shared that it’s heartwarming to see so many people gather for those we lost.

“Having a community come out and being able to connect directly with the resources that we have in our county. The different activities in this event is really meaningful to a lot of people being able to come out here and break the stigma around the issues. California overall doesn’t have a really high suicide rates compared to the rest of the nation however Northern California has the highest in the state,” shared Freitas.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month.

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