Duxbury Residents To Walk Overnight For Suicide Prevention

DUXBURY, Mass. - May 4, 2013 - PRLog -- Contact Information:

Erin Pannell

Pannell.erin@gmail.com

DUXBURY RESIDENTS TO WALK OVERNIGHT

FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION

Out of the Darkness Overnight Will Take Place in Washington D.C. June 1-2

Duxbury, Massachusetts – On June 1st through 2nd mother and daughter team Jean and Erin Pannell will participate in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s (AFSP) Out of the Darkness Overnight, a 16 to 18-mile walk from sunset to sunrise, to raise funds and awareness for suicide prevention.

For Erin, the driving reason she has chosen to participate in the walk this year is to honor a friend, and fellow Duxbury resident, who lost his battle against depression a little over a year ago. Erin explains, “A close friend of mine in high school, and a classmate of mine in Duxbury since we were both in Mrs. Barrow's kindergarten class, recently lost the battle with depression and was taken from us far too early. Although I have cried many tears over the fact that there is nothing I can do to go back and help him now, I hope that through my efforts, we can increase the amount of resources available to people like him.”  

According to AFSP close to one million people will make a suicide attempt and more than 38,000 will die by suicide in the U.S. this year.  “These statistics are troubling, but it is important to know that suicide can be prevented.  That is why I am walking in The Overnight; I want to take meaningful action to prevent suicide, and to support my daughter as she honors her friend,” explains Jean.  

The Foundation hopes that by bringing this event to the nation’s capital it will elevate a national conversation about suicide prevention as well as motivate leaders to take more action regarding this serious public health problem.

Proceeds from the Out of the Darkness Overnight support research and a variety of prevention, education and advocacy programs including distribution of the Foundation’s More Than Sad educational program on teen depression and suicide prevention to high schools across the country.

To support the Pannells, or to get more information about The Overnight, visit http://theovernight.donordrive.com/participant/pannell (http://theovernight.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=d...).