FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Birmingham native Matt Weeks had been suffering from bouts of depression with corresponding feelings of hopelessness. He was known as an easygoing outdoors enthusiast before he died by suicide two years ago at age 18.

“More than 90 percent of suicide victims have a significant psychiatric illness, such as clinical depression, at the time of their death,” according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Matt died before a scheduled appointment with a psychiatrist.

To cope with their loss, the Weeks family helped organize the Out of the Darkness community walk in Birmingham last year. These walks raise community awareness and benefit the AFSP. The Weeks family is working to erase the stigma of mental disorders, which could prevent people from accepting all the treatment and medication they need. The Matt Weeks Family and Friends team raised over $51,000 to help fund research and spread awareness about suicide prevention.

Inspired by the Weeks family and others just like them, Brooks Chew, whose father, Bill Morgan, died by suicide in January 2005, decided to take action in her community. Chew, along with a committee of friends and family, including Brian Chew, Ashley Lieb, Pecky Morgan, Alex Robinson and Rebekah Webb, is organizing the south Alabama’s first Out of the Darkness community walk scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20 in Fairhope.

“We invite survivors to walk in memory of lost loved ones. My family and I will be walking in honor of my father,” says Chew, south Alabama’s walk organizer. “It is vitally important for us to unite as a community to reach out and provide support to those suffering from mental illness and depression.”

There has already been a tremendous amount of community support for this event. Sadie’s and Bancorp South are official sponsors, and several downtown businesses in Fairhope have donated items for a raffle the day of the walk. However, sponsors and volunteers are still needed. For information, please send an e-mail to FairhopeAFSPwalk@gmail.com and visit the walk Web site at www.outofthedarkness.org. Anyone interested in participating in the walk should use the same contact information.

On-site registration will be held at the Fairhope Duck Pond and Pavilion at 8 a.m. The walk will begin promptly at 9. Proceeds will benefit local and national suicide prevention and awareness programs.