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Stories about AFSP National Capital Area

The author, Ali Walker, standing outside at an Out of the Darkness Walk event and wearing an AFSP "HOPE" t-shirt.

Something Bigger Than Myself: Reflections on Suicide Prevention and National Volunteer Week

Volunteering with AFSP for the past 15 years has rebuilt my sense of self-efficacy and restored my hope for the future.

A headshot of the author, Darlene Tzou, smiling and wearing a salmon-pink shirt with a black blazer.

Through Education, We Can Help Talk Away the Dark

Darlene Tzou first heard about AFSP from a colleague who was raising money for an Out of the Darkness Walk in memory of her son. Darlene started out as a volunteer, and now serves on the National Capital Area Chapter’s board as the Education Chair, helping to lead local suicide prevention education efforts in her area.

A headshot photo of Ali Walker

To Help Others Cope with Suicide Loss, I First Had to Forgive Myself

A few years after college, I moved to Washington, D.C. to pursue a career as a physician assistant. To stay involved in suicide prevention, I began volunteering with AFSP’s National Capital Area Chapter. A year later, I joined the chapter board and in 2018 became its chair.

Headshot of Megan Kastner

Does Everything Really Happen for a Reason?

While I still struggle with the concept of whether everything happens for a reason, my own experiences have led me to this conclusion: that while we cannot ever fully control the negative experiences that happen in our lives, we can use them to shape our lives and paths for the better.