One month after her 16-year-old son died by suicide, Karen DeLany found some relief from the pain she was feeling. DeLany, up late one night last fall, was looking for suicide prevention charities and organizations on the Internet.

That's where DeLany, an Auburn resident, located the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Out of the Darkness Community Walks and decided to organize a community walk in her son's name.

"The way the community came together was incredible," said DeLany, of how 69 family members and friends participated in the walk last year for her son, Kyle Copija, who died in September, 2006

According to DeLany, last year's walk in October was so successful that Team Copija raised over $9,000 for AFSP.

AFSP started nearly 20 years ago by families who had lost loved ones to suicide, according to Robert Gebbia, executive director of AFSP.

"We chose the symbol 'Out of the Darkness' because there's been little attention to suicide as a national problem and a lot of stigma surrounding it," said Gebbia. This way, we're taking the issue out of the darkness and it's resonated through these walks."

AFSP has raised nearly $4 million since 2004 for research and education from the participants and sponsors of the Out of the Darkness Community Walks.

This year's 2.5-mile Out of the Darkness Community Walk will be held Saturday, Sept. 1 at Fort Yargo State Park, located at 210 S. Broad St., in Winder. Registration is at 8 a.m. and the walk begins at 9 a.m. There is a $3 parking fee.

DeLany said she hopes that the community walk will continue to grow each year - and for people not to forget Kyle and others who have been affected by suicide.

"I want to bring it 'out of the darkness'," said DeLany. "I want people to get educated about it especially if we can save one family. By getting out and walking, you're bringing attention to the cause."

DeLany said she and Kyle's friends did not initially see any signs of depression with her son. But looking back, she does.

"He was always laughing - a jokester," said DeLany. "But, he did have lows and they were very low. The highs were always very high."

DeLany said it's important for parents and teens to talk. "By just asking them, you might get them to open up and see if something's bothering them," said DeLany.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, about one million people attempt suicide each year and 30,000 people die by suicide every year. More than 90 percent of people who die by suicide have an underlying mental illness, often depression.

"Suicide and mental illness take an enormous toll on families, friends and neighbors leaving communities across the country devastated by this national health problem," said Gebbia. "The Out of the Darkness Community Walks will unite thousands of people with common goals, preventing suicide and ending the stigma that surround depression and other mental illnesses."

Studies indicate that the best way to prevent suicide is through early recognition and treatment of depression and other psychiatric illnesses, according to the AFSP Web site.

"People who have concerns about loved ones should recommend seeking professional assessment," said Gebbia. "One thing we do have now is better medical detection and treatment of problems."

Out of the Darkness Community Walks are also scheduled for Oct. 14 in on Cohen Walker Drive in Warner Robins and Oct. 28 at Piedmont Park in Atlanta. More than 100 walks are planned throughout the U.S. through November, with about 20,000 planned participants.

While there is no fundraising requirement for the walks, participants are encouraged to raise at least $150 for AFSP.

For more information, or to register or donate, visit www.outofthedarkness.org.