By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
About 100 volunteers from Hays and the surrounding area joined the thousands of people across the nation for the annual Out of Darkness Walk on Saturday at Frontier Park East in Hays.
The gathering supported the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s education, research and support for survivors of suicide loss.
Organizers said they doubled the amount raised from the previous year, and the Hays event raised more than Kansas communities much larger than Hays.
Women Who Lead was the advocate sponsor for this year's event, donating $2,500.
Walkers were encouraged to wear beads to symbolize how they have been affected by suicide, the death of a friend, the death of a loved one, a personal struggle with suicidal thoughts, etc.
Among the booths at the event was one that promoted the 988 crisis hotline. Like the 911 emergency line, you can dial 988 from any phone.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States and its territories, according to its website.
The 988 Lifeline is comprised of a national network of more than 200 local crisis centers, combining local care and resources with national standards and best practices, its website said.
High Plains Mental Health, which also participated in the event, offers a local crisis hotline, 1-800-432-0333.
Healing After Loss of Suicide, also known as HALOS, is a long-running group that helps those who are grieving the loss of someone who has died by suicide.
For more information on the group, call Leigha Dobson at 785-432-0989.
