You’ve seen the blue beads. Or maybe the gold ones. If you’ve ever been to an Out of the Darkness Walk, you know it’s not just some casual Saturday morning stroll through a park. It’s heavy. It’s also, weirdly enough, one of the most electric, life-affirming places you can be. People show up at these events—organized by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)—carrying a lot of baggage. Grief, mostly. But they also bring this stubborn, quiet hope that things can actually get better for the next person.
The suicide rate in the United States has been a stubborn beast. According to the CDC, we’re looking at nearly 50,000 deaths by suicide annually. That’s a stadium full of people. Gone. Every year. When you stand at the starting line of a community walk, you’re standing with the people who are tired of that statistic.
What’s really going on at an Out of the Darkness Walk?
Most people think it’s a fundraiser. Well, it is. The money goes toward research, advocacy, and those "Talk Saves Lives" programs that schools use. But if you talk to a regular, they’ll tell you the money is secondary to the visibility. For a long time, suicide was the thing we whispered about in the back of the church or the breakroom. You didn't say the word. You said "passed away suddenly."
The Out of the Darkness Walk flips that script. It makes the invisible visible.
The Honor Beads: A silent language
The most striking thing you’ll see is the beads. It sounds simple, almost like a craft project, but the color coding is deeply emotional. Each color represents a specific connection to the cause.
- White is for the loss of a child.
- Red is for the loss of a spouse or partner.
- Gold is for the loss of a parent.
- Green signifies a personal struggle or a past attempt.
- Teal is for supporting someone who struggles.
Walking past someone wearing gold and white beads is a gut-punch. You don't need to ask their story; you already know a piece of it. It creates this instant, unspoken community where you don't have to explain why you're crying near the registration booth. Honestly, it’s one of the few places in modern society where you can be totally vulnerable with a stranger and they just get it.
Why the "Darkness" metaphor actually works
Some critics think the branding is a bit too "emo." But "Out of the Darkness" refers to the stigma. It’s about dragging a taboo topic into the light of day where it can’t fester. Dr. Christine Moutier, the Chief Medical Officer at AFSP, often talks about how silence is the biggest enemy of prevention. When we don't talk about it, people who are struggling feel like they’re the only ones. They’re not.
Actually, the stats show that millions of Americans think about suicide every year. By walking in public, in the middle of a city or a campus, participants are basically saying, "We see you, and we’re not scared to talk about this."
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The three types of walks (and why they’re different)
Not all walks are the same. You’ve basically got three flavors:
- Community Walks: These are the big ones. They happen in over 400 cities across all 50 states. They’re local, family-friendly, and usually a few miles long.
- Campus Walks: These target the 18-24 demographic. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for college students, so these walks are crucial for changing the culture on campus before tragedy hits.
- The Overnight: This is the marathon version. You walk 16+ miles from dusk until dawn. It’s grueling. It’s also a massive metaphor for the "long night" of depression.
I’ve seen people do the Overnight who aren’t even "fit" in the traditional sense. They do it because the physical pain of the walk is a way to process the emotional pain they’ve been carrying. It’s a pilgrimage.
Does walking actually prevent suicide?
This is the big question. Does a walk in a park save lives?
If you look at the "Chain of Care" model, the answer is a messy yes. The funds raised go into training for primary care physicians. Most people who die by suicide saw a doctor in the month before their death. If that doctor is trained by AFSP-funded research to spot the subtle warning signs—anhedonia, sleep disruption, "off" comments—that’s where the life is saved.
It’s about the "ripple effect." One person goes to an Out of the Darkness Walk, learns that it’s okay to ask "Are you thinking about killing yourself?" (yes, you should use those exact words), and then they use that question three months later with a coworker. That’s the real-world impact. It’s not just the banners and the t-shirts.
The role of "Lived Experience"
A huge shift in the mental health world lately is the focus on "Lived Experience." This means listening to people who have attempted suicide and survived. In the past, these voices were sidelined. Now, they are the leaders. At many walks, the speakers at the opening ceremony are survivors. Hearing someone say, "I was at the edge, and I’m glad I stayed," is more powerful than any clinical pamphlet you could ever hand out.
What most people get wrong about the event
A common misconception is that the walk is just a "cry-fest."
Look, there are tears. A lot of them. But there’s also a weird amount of laughter. People share funny stories about the people they lost. They celebrate the lives lived, not just the way they ended. It’s a celebration of resilience.
Also, you don't have to have lost someone to participate. One of the fastest-growing groups of walkers are those who just care about mental health. They’re the "allies." Having a group of people show up just to support the cause—without a personal tragedy driving them—is incredibly validating for those who are grieving. It says, "Your loss matters to me, even if I didn't know them."
The logistics: How to actually get involved
If you’re thinking about joining, don't overthink it. Most walks don't have a registration fee, though they encourage fundraising. You can literally just show up.
- Find a local chapter: The AFSP website has a map. It’s usually updated by late summer for the fall walk season.
- Join a team: If you're walking in memory of someone, creating a team with their name is a great way to gather friends and family. It turns a lonely anniversary into a day of action.
- Volunteer: They always need people to hand out water, check people in, or help with the "Bead Station."
Actionable steps for the "Day After"
Walking is the start, not the finish line. If you want to make a dent in the suicide rate, here is what you do after the sneakers are back in the closet:
- Take a QPR Training: "Question, Persuade, Refer." It’s like CPR but for mental health. It takes two hours and gives you a literal script for helping someone in crisis.
- Save the numbers: Put 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) in your phone. Not for you, but so you can hand your phone to someone else who needs it.
- Advocate for policy: AFSP has a "Field Advocate" program where you can send pre-written emails to your representatives about things like mental health parity in insurance or funding for school counselors.
- Normalize the struggle: Talk about your own therapist. Talk about your "bad brain days." When you're open about your mental health, you give everyone else in the room permission to be human too.
The Out of the Darkness Walk is a powerful symbol, but the real work happens in the 364 days between the events. It’s in the texts we send to check in. It’s in the way we refuse to let shame win. We’re moving toward a world where mental health is treated with the same urgency as physical health, and honestly, we're getting there. One step at a time. It's a slow walk, but we're moving in the right direction.