2023 Out of Darkness Walk for Suicide Prevention

Staker Parson and CRH employees proudly participated in the 2023 Out of Darkness walk of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The Out of Darkness walk is a campaign initiative of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) where participants and advocates of suicide prevention gather and walk as a tribute and in remembrance of the memory of those lost to suicide.

The walk took place on September 9, 2023, at the Veterans Memorial Park in West Jordan, Utah. A total of two thousand people were in attendance, which included several employees with their families, as well as members of the public.

The event also serves as a fundraising opportunity to assist the organization in making investments in life-saving research, education, advocacy, and support in the fight for suicide prevention.

Our team sponsored the start and finish lines for the walk, helping raise over $1,350 in donations, and a total of $247,047 was raised from the event to help support suicide prevention.

Food trucks and vendors were made available during the event, as well as therapy dogs, memory tents, and suicide prevention and remembrance booths to help people remember loved ones who had passed away from suicide. There were also silent auctions, music, and mental health professionals in attendance to provide support and resources to participants.

This topic is incredibly personal to us and our employees, and it was a significant event for one of our own, Joel Glenn, a utility superintendent with Reynolds Excavation, Demolition & Utilities. He and his wife, Sommer, were both in attendance and were able to honor their daughter, who lost her life to suicide over two years ago.

We are proud to continue to be involved and offer our support to such a profound and essential community initiative.

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the world and can affect people of all backgrounds. In the US alone, there are approximately 123 suicides daily, which makes for about one death every 12 minutes. The construction industry, in particular, is uniquely vulnerable to suicide, with about 50 deaths per 100,000 construction workers in the US, making it the industry with the second-highest rate of suicide.

If you are feeling distressed, please know you are not alone. Help is always available.

Below are a few resources and lifelines where you can find assistance.

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

24-hour, confidential support to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.

Call or text 988 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.

Emergency number 911

Crisis Text Line

Text “HELLO” to 741741

Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week

Connect confidentially with a crisis counselor who can provide support and information for any crisis.