The Overnight in the News: Local Voices

Local Media Share Their Residents’ Reasons for Overnight Participation

Each year, many local news media outlets print and run pieces that detail the stories of the faces of the Overnight Walk and share with their readers the personal reasons that many of their own local Walkers join our community. These specific stories of struggle, loss, and hope detail the reasons that we all participate in the Overnight and help us reconnect with the individual stories and aspects of suicide and mental illness.

Often, these stories in local newspapers and television outlets come about because our supporters and Walkers use our Hometown Press Releases and other materials to contact their own local media and let them know about the event, AFSP, and the local connection. Spreading the message to so many that may not have known about the event itself or AFSP’s programs is one of the main purposes of the Overnight and helps so many around the country begin their healing journey.

A Young Woman’s Story Touches Many

The Community Voice, a local news outlet for Rohnert Park (about 50 miles north of San Francisco), ran a story that shared with their community the compelling and inspiring story of a 13 year old student in their community that participated in the 2012 Overnight in memory of several members of her family. Making this a community and local piece helped highlight the efforts of this young resident and also helped her in spreading the word and her fundraising campaign.

Local Residents Help Give Context to a National Movement

Residents from Napa, CA were also showcased during the 2012 season in a piece in their local Napa Valley Register which served to highlight the human side of suicide loss and the stories that each individual participant has as their reason for joining the Overnight community.

Like many cities located within a few hours of the Overnight’s host city each year, Napa had residents that made up several teams and a group of individual Walkers for the 2012 Overnight. The articles in their local papers and the efforts of the individual Walkers in spreading the word and collecting donations helped bring awareness about suicide and mental illness to their communities.

If you would like to see your local news outlets run stories about the Overnight Walk and AFSP, take a look at our Hometown Press Releases that will help you contact them and let them know that their community is interested in them reporting about this important issue.

Links to Full Articles:

A Personal Walk for a Meaningful Cause

Hurt by Suicide Losses, Locals Prepare for Overnight Walk