People from everywhere participate in Out of Darkness walk, raise suicide awareness

A few hundred people participated in the Out of Darkness walk on campus Saturday afternoon to raise awareness of suicide and mental health.

The Utah State University Student Association put on the walk to kick off a mental health awareness week at USU, and to bring people from the community and the state together, to raise awareness of suicide and mental health. The walk was also sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, which helps with campus walks for awareness across the nation.

“The goal of this week at Utah State is for us to break down the stigma surrounding mental health,” said USUSA President Trevor Olsen, in the opening ceremony of the walk. “One, so that people who don’t deal with mental illness in their own lives can feel more empathetic for those who do, and two, to help those who are dealing with mental illnesses get the help that they need so that they can get to a better place in their lives.”

Stand Up to Stigma is the theme of the week, with Out of Darkness being the theme for the walk.

Rachael Fresh, the newly elected Student Alumni Association VP for USUSA, spoke to this theme at the opening ceremony of the walk, by sharing her own experience of losing a friend to suicide, as well as another boy she knew, while in high school.

“Darkness is going to two funerals for two 16-year-old boys, within the same week. We are taught that there is a recipe for happiness. But you know what? I think that those who teach us that are wrong, absolutely wrong. You can have everything go right in your life, and there will be moments where you struggle,” Fresh said. “You don’t know who is struggling and the fact is that everyone is struggling with something: depression, anxiety, fear can reach every human on this Earth, because no one is immune to it… Light is acknowledging the people who can be affected each year, every month, every week, every day.”

Knowing and understanding the signs of a person who may be affected by mental illness can be just what people need to know and be aware of to help those around them, and themselves, Fresh said, which was part of the theme of awareness for the event.

“These experiences taught me to talk about it more, to not be afraid because look at all of us here today, look at all of us standing here, we’ve all been affected,” Fresh said. “Some of us might be affected in the future again. So I believe vulnerability is a huge part of the change that can be created.”

The Dahl family, which has six boys — three of whom graduated from, and one who is currently attending USU — performed a song in memory of their brother who died by suicide in November of 2014. He would have turned 18 on the day of the event.

“We want to wish our little brother a happy birthday,” said one of the brothers before the song.

Before the walk, there was a bead ceremony to share about the meaning of wearing the different colored beads provided to walk participants. Green beads were worn by those who personally struggled with mental illness; blue was for supporters of the cause; white represented the loss of a child to suicide; gold beads stood for the loss of a parent; orange beads for the loss of a sibling; purple was to represent the loss of a friend or relative; teal was for those who have survived and beaten their mental illness; red was for the loss of a spouse or partner; silver for first responder or military members who have been lost to suicide.

Ty Aller, who is the Graduate Studies Senator for USUSA, has helped with much of the organization of the event, and was the official representative at the bead ceremony for the blue beads of support.

“I had this little speech written, but I don’t want to use it, because, as I look out and see everyone here, I think that we are all supporters,” Aller said. “That’s the beautiful thing we’re trying to create here.”

Many students showed support at the walk, all for different and personal reasons.

“I’m a member of President’s Cabinet, and we’re focusing a lot on all of the events that are happening this week because part of Trevor’s initiative is mental health. So, I just wanted to support for President’s Cabinet and for all those who deal with mental illness,” said Abby Lathem, a sophomore studying elementary education and special education.

Others came with very personal reasons to join in the walk, and show support.

“I kind of have more personal reasons for why I’m walking; I actually have a brother who’s been in the hospital this week from attempting to take his life and that’s a reason I’m walking,” said Kalie Gilmour, a sophomore studying early childhood education and special education. “Plus, I’ve struggled with mental illness my whole life, so I want to show support for those who are either struggling with a mental illness, depression or know someone who is. The warning sides are huge, and people kind of just turn a blind eye, but just being aware. It’s a real thing.”

Both Lathem and Gilmour were also there to show support for their sorority, Kappa Delta, and those girls in it who struggle with mental illness and other things.

USUSA wanted successful support to come from the event and stated on their website: “Join the effort to raise awareness and funds that allow AFSP to invest in new research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss. Your support of USUSA’s mental health initiatives will provide opportunities for students and community members to access resources that can save their lives.”

All information about events for the “Mental Health is No Joke” mental health awareness week can be found at: ususa.usu.edu/mentalhealth2016.

— mandy.m.morgan@aggiemail.usu.edu
@mandy_morg