Welcome to the Pennsylvania Out of the Darkness Walks and Program Info Page

#BeTheVoice of suicide prevention in Pennsylvania

Thank You for an Incredible 2019 Walk Season!

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Greater Philadelphia, Eastern Pennsylvania, and Western Pennsylvania chapters host Out of the Darkness Walks throughout the state each fall. 

 

  

Join an Out of the Darkness Walk Today!

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Greater Philadelphia, Eastern Pennsylvania, and Western Pennsylvania chapters host Out of the Darkness Walks throughout the state each fall. Register today for a walk near you and join us as we walk to fight suicide.

 

Register Today for one of our Pennsylvania Walks!  

09/12/2020 Harrisburg Walk, FNB Park at City Island - Harrisburg, PA
09/12/2020 Pittsburgh Walk, Stage AE - Pittsburgh, PA
09/13/2020 Blair County Walk, Lakemont Park - Altoona, PA
09/13/2020 Elk County Walk, 315 Brusselles Street - St. Mary's, PA
09/13/2020 Greater Northeast PA Walk, Kirby Park - Wilkes Barre, PA
09/19/2020 Erie Walk, Cookhouse Pav., Presque Isle State Park - Erie, PA
09/19/2020 Carlisle Walk, Carlisle Fairgrounds - Carlisle, PA
09/26/2020 Lawrence County Walk, Riverwalk Amphitheatre - New Castle, PA
09/26/2020 Cambria County Walk, Central Park - Johnstown, PA
09/27/2020 Clinton County Walk, Riverview Park - Lock Haven, PA
10/04/2020 Greater Philadelphia Walk, Philadelphia Museum of Art - Philadelphia, PA
10/04/2020 Greater Lehigh Valley Walk, Lehigh Parkway - Allentown, PA
10/04/2020 Huntingdon County Walk, Detwiler Field - Huntingdon, PA
10/04/2020 Mifflin-Juniata Walk, Kish Park - Lewistown, PA

 

Featured Programs

By featuring real stories and experiences, It’s Real conveys that depression and other mental health conditions are real illnesses that can be managed through specific treatments and interventions. It encourages students to be mindful of the state of their mental health, to acknowledge and recognize when they are struggling, and to take steps to seek help.

We hope it inspires you to have a #RealConvo today! 

 

Talk Saves Lives is a community-based presentation that covers the general scope of suicide, the research on prevention, and what people can do to fight suicide.

Attendees will learn the risk and warning signs of suicide, and how together, we can help prevent it.  Check out a 30 second promo video HERE.

Contact Area Directors Mary Ann Murtha (Greater Philadelphia, mamurtha@afsp.org), Samantha Benz (Eastern PA, sbenz@afsp.org), or Jesse Putkoski (Western PA, jputkoski@afsp.org) to schedule your Talk Saves Lives TODAY!

 

 

You can bring these programs to your school, workplace, church, Boys/Girls Club, Community Groups, Health Clubs. These programs are funded by the dollars you raised at our Walks and events. Contact Area Directors Mary Ann Murtha (Greater Philadelphia, mamurtha@afsp.org), Samantha Benz (Eastern PA, sbenz@afsp.org), or Jesse Putkoski (Western PA, jputkoski@afsp.org) to inquire about scheduling a program in your community. 

For a list of all programs and support services, visit www.afsp.org 

 

PA State Fact Sheet:

Connect with your local chapter to get more involved and keep updated with programs and activities all year long.


Pennsylvania Chapters Contacts:

Greater Philadelphia Chapter: Mary Ann Murtha | 215-532-0275 | mamurtha@afsp.org

Counties served: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia

Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter: Samantha Benz | 814-357-5829 | sbenz@afsp.org

Counties served: Adams, Berks, Blair, Bardford, Carbon, Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mifflin, Monroe, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne, Wyoming, York

Western Pennsylvania Chapter: Jesse Putkoski | 412-510-9514 | jputkoski@afsp.org

Counties served: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Somerset, Venango, Warren, Washington, West Moreland

 

Want to be involved with one of the Pennsylvania chapters? If you're interested in learning more please complete an online volunteer form for Greater Philadelphia, Eastern PA, or Western PA, and someone from that chapter will contact you! 

Thank You for Supporting AFSP!

 

About our AFSP chapters

The grassroots work we do focuses on eliminating the loss of life from suicide by: delivering innovative prevention programs, educating the public about risk factors and warning signs, raising funds for suicide research and programs, and reaching out to those individuals who have lost someone to suicide.

As a part of AFSP’s growing nationwide network of chapters, we bring together people from all backgrounds who want to prevent suicide in our communities. Families and friends who have lost someone to suicide, vulnerable individuals, mental health professionals, clergy, educators, students, community/business leaders, and many others energize our chapters.