It is difficult to accept the fact that someone you know and love committed suicide. There is usually very little closure and more often than not, no warning that the person was even considering doing something so horrible and final.

Yet tens of thousands of people leave behind families and friends each year when they take their own lives.

Each year in the United States, more than 42,000 people commit suicide. That makes suicide the 10th leading cause of death in this country, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

To raise awareness for those staggering statistics, as well as to raise money for research, Ohio University Southern will host an Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention walk at the Ironton High School track today.

With nearly 250,000 people walking in 360 cities across the country, the Out of the Darkness walks are AFSP’s biggest fundraiser and the driving force of the suicide prevention movement.

Registration for the Ironton walk begins at 1 p.m. at the Riffe Center. The walk is a 5K, or about 12 laps around the track.

OUS has a goal of $5,000, but they need the community’s support to get there.

Consider joining the walk today and encourage someone you know to come along. You just may learn some valuable information about suicide prevention that could safe a life.