Kennesaw State’s Counseling and Psychological Services partnered with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to host the “Out of the Darkness Campus Walk” on April 15 at 2 p.m. at Swift Cantrell Park in Kennesaw, Georgia.
Dr. Marcuetta Sims, a licensed psychologist for CPS, said the fundraiser’s purpose was to demonstrate to the participants that they are not alone as there are many people who have either suffered from mental illness or know someone who has.
“One of the biggest factors contributing to suicidal ideation is feeling very alone and isolated and feel like nobody else kind of understands what they’re going through,” Sims said.
The national event was hosted at KSU for the first time with hopes of it becoming a reoccurring event, Sims said. It was coordinated by Lydia Evans, a student at KSU and a board member of the Atlanta Walk Committee.
The event started off with preregistration activities that included playing music and participant engagement. Participants were also given honor beads that represented different meanings, such as gold for having lost a parent and green for struggling personally.
The beads helped pair the participants up with those who have suffered from the same issues and encouraged support between strangers.
Teams in attendance included Kappa Delta, Suzannah’s Soldiers and Cobb Sources of Strength. The event raised nearly $12,000 dollars which the AFSP will donate to its supporting charities.
AFSP referred to the “Out of the Darkness Campus Walk” as a “journey of remembrance, hope, support, and a walk that unites a campus and community – a time to acknowledge the ways in which suicide and mental illness have affected our lives and loved ones.”
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255). You can find out more and support AFSP on their donor drive website.
