SWAP (Sharks with a Purpose) sent two representatives to this year’s American Foundation of Suicide Prevention’s (AFSP) Out of Darkness Walk to Prevent Suicide on Saturday, October 12th at the Jacksonville Landing. SWAP President, Peter Divert and Staff Chair, Samantha Gaulden, manned an NSU information table before and after the 5K Walk and Peter participated in the 5K run.
This event is vital to the health of our community. Jacksonville has a suicide rate of 14.2%. That number has continued to increase since 2011. The American Foundation of Suicide Prevention works to create and deliver innovative suicide prevention programs, educating the public about risks and warning signs of suicide, raising funds for suicide research and programs, while also reaching out to those who have lost loved ones to suicide.