Last year’s Out of the Darkness suicide awareness walk in downtown Ottawa raised $46,000. Organizer Alexis Ferracuti says the 360 walkers raised the money for prevention, which can include advocating for policies to help people with mental health troubles. She wants people to know how to recognize suicidal behavior, because she didn’t until it was too late to save one of her friends.
Ferracuti says this area, like most of Illinois, doesn’t have enough mental health professionals. That might mean everyone else has to do more to prevent suicide. And so, the walk isn’t just about raising money. Ferracuti says people give each other moral support.
The next Out of the Darkness walk will be on Saturday, October 9th at 11am in downtown Ottawa.