The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's annual walk returns to Pasadena's Central Park on Saturday, Nov. 7, as organizers say families affected by the January 2025 Eaton Fire are still struggling.

The Greater Los Angeles Pasadena Out of the Darkness Walk is free and open to all. Check-in begins at 9 a.m. and the program starts at 10 a.m. at Central Park, 275 S. Raymond Ave., according to Pasadena Now, which reported on the event and the Eaton Fire connection.

Joslynn Jarrett-Skelton, executive director of AFSP's Greater Los Angeles and Central Coast Chapter, said of Pasadena and Altadena families that "they're still struggling and we hear it all the time." She said staff visiting middle schools and high schools see children still dealing with the fire's effects.

A shift in diagnoses

Sycamores, a Pasadena-based behavioral health agency and walk sponsor, has noticed a change in the people it serves. Dr. Jana Lord, Sycamores' chief operating officer, said the agency has "seen a switch in our predominant diagnoses from depressive symptoms to trauma" since the Eaton Fire. She said that category includes anxiety.

Lord said the agency cannot attribute that shift to the fire.

Some young people have told Sycamores staff that recent strong winds brought back memories of the night the fire broke out, Lord said. She encouraged families to stick to routines, especially around moments of transition.

Lord said Sycamores is part of the countywide mobile crisis response system under contract with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. She said the county groups data by region and cannot isolate Pasadena and Altadena specifically. The San Gabriel Valley's share of countywide mobile crisis calls rose from about 9% at the start of the prior year to 15% over the past year, she said, while total countywide calls also increased. Lord said the rise likely reflects both greater awareness of services and growing need.

What to expect at the walk

The non-competitive walk covers 1 to 3 miles. The program includes an opening ceremony, resource tables and complimentary honor beads for every participant, according to AFSP's event page. Each bead color reflects a walker's connection to the cause. White marks the loss of a child.

Skelton said resource providers will include the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, the county Office of Violence Prevention, Didi Hirsch, LifeStance and Free Mom Hugs. Las Encinas Hospital is among this year's sponsors.

Registration is free on the AFSP event page, and walkers can also sign up on walk day. Those who individually raise $150 or more receive the official walk T-shirt. Donations are accepted through Dec. 31.

Suicide was the 10th leading cause of death in the United States in 2024, when 48,824 Americans died by suicide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The national age-adjusted rate was 13.7 deaths per 100,000 people, down from 14.1 in 2023, according to a CDC data brief.

What's next

The walk's donation window stays open through Dec. 31. To request a mobile crisis team at any time, residents can call the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health's 24/7 Help Line at 800-854-7771.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.