Last year, about 700 people joined the Yellowstone Valley Out of the Darkness Walk to reduce the stigma of mental illness and raise money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Even more people are expected this year as the issue continues to capture the attention of a statewide Suicide Review Team, Gov. Steve Bullock, Sen. John Walsh and others. This marks the 11th year for the event.

The timing of this year’s walk coincides with the release earlier this summer of nationwide suicide statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Based on 2011 statistics, the most current numbers available, Montana — along with Wyoming — was ranked No. 1, recording 232 suicides in 2011. The rate is twice the national rate.

So far this year, there have been at least 95 confirmed suicides in Montana.

In 2011, more than 39,000 people nationally killed themselves, making it the 11th leading cause of death for all ages. It is equivalent to one death by suicide every 16 minutes, according to the CDC.

Someone dies by suicide in this country every 13.7 minutes, said Joan Nye, chair of the Montana Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and chair of the walk.

“Suicide knows no boundaries,” Nye said. “It affects all ages, ethnic groups, families, schools, socioeconomic levels and religious groups.”

Yet, she said, suicide is mostly preventable, as people learn to recognize symptoms in themselves and in others, learn how to interact with someone who might be suicidal, and learn that help is available to ease the pain of depression.

Most people who commit suicide are trying to end the pain of depression and other conditions, said Nye, whose son killed himself.

“Suicide prevention is everyone’s business,” Nye said.

Everyone can participate by walking and raising money, by volunteering, by donating or by taking a class to learn how to prevent suicide.

From 2004 to 2013, the walk has grown from 35 participants to 700 and from $2,500 raised to more than $35,000. Money raised will be used for research, education and programming.

The walks are the primary source of funding for the AFSP, the leading national not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy, and to reaching out to people with mental disorders and those impacted by suicide. They are also the primary source of funding for the Montana Chapter AFSP, which provides suicide prevention classes and other programs in this area and statewide.