This month, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, http://afsp.org, is holding “Out of the Darkness” community walks. These annual walks, which are held throughout the country, draw hundreds of people together in different communities and campuses to walk to conquer suicide, aiming to open up conversations and to help people to be more aware. Funds raised help the foundation to fight suicide.

In Utah, there are several different walks happening throughout the month of September. Salt Lake City’s Out of the Darkness Walk will be held on Sept. 9 at Veterans Memorial Park in West Jordan. Walkers can register online and donations help to raise money for suicide prevention efforts in Utah.

The beginning of a new school year is the perfect time for Suicide Prevention Month. Schools in Utah incorporate suicide prevention programs to help in this important work. Students learn the importance of watching out for others who may be struggling, resilience, inclusion, reaching out in kindness and asking for help.

Hope4Utah’s Walk4Hope will be held on Sept. 23, beginning at Timpanogos Elementary, 449 N. 500 West in Provo. Registration is at 9 a.m., with a program at 9:30 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m. The walk is free and everyone is welcome.

The annual walk is a way to bring awareness to suicide in the community and promote the message of suicide prevention. Participants who have lost someone to suicide are encouraged to bring a photo of their loved one for a memory wall.

How else can we begin to prevent suicide? One way is to talk! If you’re feeling hopeless, talk to someone. If you notice that someone seems to be struggling, ask them how they are doing. If you’re not sure who to talk to or how to ask if someone is having suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 at any time.

During September and every month, we can work together to reach out to others and prevent suicide.