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It’s World Suicide Prevention Day and a great time to tell you about an event coming up at Goleta Beach. The County of Santa Barbara Department of Behavioral Wellness invites the community to come together for the 2025 American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Out of the Darkness Community Walk, happening Saturday, October 4 at Goleta Beach Park.
The Out of the Darkness Walk is a powerful and unifying event where friends, families, coworkers, and neighbors join in the fight against suicide. Participants walk to honor loved ones lost, support those who struggle, and raise awareness that hope and help are always available.
Suicide remains a critical public health issue, claiming more than 47,000 lives annually in the United States — including over 4,000 in California and 37 in Santa Barbara County in 2024. National Suicide Prevention Month reminds us that while prevention is a year-round effort, this is a time to connect, raise awareness, and reinforce the message that no one is alone.
The walk provides a safe and inspiring space for individuals to share their stories, connect with others, and build a network of support and resilience.
Registration is free and open to all. Whether you walk individually, with a friend, or form a team, your presence makes a difference. Sign up today and be part of bringing mental health out of the darkness and into the light of hope.
Register here today!
If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide, help is available:
The Behavioral Wellness 24/7 Access Line is available at 888-868-1649.
Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis LifelineCall the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255
To learn more about County of Santa Barbara Department of Behavioral Wellness, visit countyofsb.org/behavioral-wellness.
Read more on The Santa Barbara Independent
