Out of the dark

In August 2005 Marissa Grayson lost her father to suicide. Eight years later, she participates in an annual ritual she finds “eerily comforting” — The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Out of the Darkness Walk.

 “It was difficult to be a part of because it reminded me of my father, but it was comforting to be around so many people that understood what I was going through,” said Grayson, a Mountain Brook resident and political science professor at Samford University.

Grayson has been a part of the walk since 2008 and this year is serving as its chair. The event allows her to honor her father, she said, and to comfort others so that they avoid the same emotional roller coaster.

The 3- to 5-mile walk features a survivor area where people can bring mementos of their lost one(s) and/or speak with a therapist. 

Along the walking path, participants are able to see numerous pairs of shoes that represent each person lost to suicide in Alabama. There are also statistics, hotline numbers and pieces of advice posted throughout the walk. 

In the U.S., a person commits suicide every 13.7 minutes. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. among adults ages 18 to 65, and the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults. According to AFSP, more than 90 percent of those who commit suicide have a diagnosable and treatable mental illness at the time of their deaths.

Some people find it hard to see how many have been lost to suicide, Grayson noted. But for her and others, the walk reminds them that they are not alone.

Last year, Birmingham held the sixth largest walk out of more than 250 national events and raised $158,717 for AFSP.

This year’s walk will be held on Nov. 3 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at Heardmont Park, located at 5458 Cahaba Valley Road. Register for free at afsp.donordrive.com.

For more, call Grayson at 613-6630 or visit afsp.org.