The Casino Association of New Jersey joined the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s 7th Annual Out of the Darkness Community Walk on Sunday, September 20. The event brought together employees from all Atlantic City casino properties and raised $315,000 for the organization.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City led the participating casino teams during the Sunday event on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Hard Rock was the first casino in the city to participate in the walk starting in 2018, originally inspired by employees whose loved ones had been impacted by suicide.
The annual event has grown to become the largest walk of its kind in New Jersey. Funds raised from the boardwalk walk support suicide prevention efforts, public education, and mental health resources provided by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s New Jersey chapter.
According to health statistics provided by the organization, suicide was the tenth leading cause of death in the United States in 2024, with more than 48,000 deaths reported nationwide. In New Jersey, suicide ranks as the third leading cause of death among youth between the ages of 15 and 24.
Data from the National Institutes of Health indicates that 20 percent of children ages 3 to 17 have a mental or behavioral disorder. Additionally, suicide rates among youth ages 12 to 17 increased by 16 percent between 2008 and 2020.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention was founded in 1987 as a voluntary health organization. The group focuses on research, public education, community programming, and support services for individuals and families affected by suicide.
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