BATH

Sunday marks the fifth annual Out of the Darkness Walk in Bath, where participants will walk through downtown Bath to raise awareness for suicide prevention and direct money toward education and prevention.

Participants in the Bath march will join thousands of others marching in similar walks taking place across the nation in association with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. In Maine, marches will be held in Bath, Portland, Bangor and Fort Kent.

“It’s to raise awareness,” said Stacey Manter, who is co-chairs the walk with Cristal Homan.

“When I do the walks, I want people to talk about suicide. I want them to talk about mental health. I want them to start talking about all of those things, and a really good way to do that is to get a few hundred people to walk through downtown Bath to raise awareness,” she added.

Manter began organizing the Bath event in 2014, after she lost her 17-year-old son, Christian, to suicide in 2012.

For people who have been affected by suicide, the walk offers an opportunity to connect with others and become more educated on the issue, said Manter.

“It has a really good vibe,” said Manter. “It’s where you can be in a group of people that kind of understand what you’re dealing with. It’s kind of like a camaraderie thing.”

People can register online at the AFSP website until Friday at noon, or sign up in person on Sunday. Participation is free, although the walk is also a fundraising effort. Part of that effort will be a raffle on Sunday. Tickets can be bought now through Sunday.

“Half of the money raised will be spent in the state of Maine on education and prevention, and the other half will go directly to AFSP, which is the largest private organization that does research on the issue,” said Manter.

September is Suicide Prevention Month, and according to a press release from the National Alliance on Mental Illness Maine, a Maine citizen is nine times more likely to die by suicide than homicide. Maine has the highest suicide rate in the Northeast.

Check-in for the walk will begin at Waterfront Park in Bath at 11 a.m. Sunday. The walk will start at 12:30 p.m. and participants will march through downtown Bath. Those who are unable to physically make the walk are welcome to join in at the park, said Manter.

• SEPTEMBER IS Suicide Prevention Month, and according to a press release from the National Alliance on Mental Illness Maine, a Maine citizen is nine times more likely to die by suicide than homicide. Maine has the highest suicide rate in the Northeast.