People from across the Triad will gather at Triad Park in Kernersville on Saturday, Oct. 17, for an event that organizers hope will help save lives, offer comfort to those who have lost loved ones and encourage more open conversations about suicide and mental health.

The annual Triad Area Out of the Darkness Walk, organized in connection with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Shelter 37 in Triad Park.

The event brings together suicide loss survivors, families, friends, volunteers and others who want to help prevent suicide and support those affected by it.

While the event is called a walk, organizers say its purpose goes far beyond getting some exercise. It’s about creating a community where people can share their experiences, support one another and talk openly about a subject that’s often difficult to discuss.

Darren Shell, who has helped lead the Triad walk for years, knows firsthand how devastating suicide can be.

Before last year’s event, Shell told the Rhino Times that his involvement in suicide prevention grew out of two deeply personal losses.

“My father died of suicide,” Shell said.

Years later, Shell also lost his best friend.

“I lost my best friend who was just totally unexpected – I never thought he would die that way,” he told the Rhino.

Shell, who has been involved with the event since 2017, explained last year that one of the most important things the walk accomplishes is bringing together people who understand what others are going through.

“Our main focus of the walk is that it’s a healing community,” Shell told the Rhino Times. “It’s amazing.”

He also stressed the importance of encouraging people to talk about their mental health rather than suffering in silence.

“The biggest thing is just for people to talk about how they feel. It helps them get rid of the stigma that ‘I’m weird,'” he said.

Shell said that, after his father’s suicide, he made the mistake of trying to deal with his grief on his own. He described spending about six months attempting to “just try to man through it.”

His message to others was that talking honestly about emotional struggles can make an enormous difference.

He also encouraged people to answer questions about their mental health honestly when visiting their doctors for annual physical examinations.

The Out of the Darkness walks are held in communities throughout the country and are intended both to raise awareness about suicide prevention and to support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s work.

Money raised through the events helps support suicide prevention education, scientific research and programs for people who have lost loved ones to suicide.

Suicide remains a major public health concern in the United States, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds.

In last year’s interview, Shell highlighted the risks faced by several groups, including veterans, teenagers and members of the LGBTQ community. He also expressed concern about suicide among older Americans.

The Triad event offers an opportunity for people who have experienced a loss to connect with others who understand their grief, while also welcoming anyone who wants to support the cause.

Those interested in taking part in Saturday’s walk can register online at afsp.org/Triad.

The event will be held at Triad Park in Kernersville, at Shelter 37, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Those unable to attend can also support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention through donations.

For those experiencing emotional distress or thoughts of suicide, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available around the clock by calling or texting 988.

Organizers hope Saturday’s gathering will remind people that they don’t have to face their struggles alone – and that sometimes a conversation can be the first step toward saving a life.

About