One of the best mental health-related events that I really think makes an impact is the Out of the Darkness Campus Walk. This walk is hosted in March at the Student Services Mall. This event brings people in the community together to have a conversation about loss and hope. Funds are raised by passionate supporters to provide resources to the communities affected by suicide, such as hotlines, support groups, and research to advocate for policy change. Almost everyone has been affected by suicide, and it is important to continue to talk about resources and support.
Last year, I helped with the planning and fundraising portion of the Out of the Darkness Walk. On the fundraising side, I planned a couple of food night fundraisers and was able to get some donations from a couple of companies. Along with this committee, I helped with some setting up for the day of the event. I set up many tents across the lawn and mapped out the walk around the campus we were going to take. Along with this, I helped with the beed ceremony.
A bead ceremony is a unique event with the Out-of-the Darkness walk. At this ceremony, there are colored beads with certain phrases that people can hold up and see who on the walk has the same bead. The goal is to provide people with other people who may have struggled with something similar to what they have struggled with. This creates unity and understanding in the community.
Another part of the walk that I enjoyed was having therapy dogs present and available. These dogs added joy to the event and added a lighthearted activity to the event. One of the dogs loved taking pictures with people who attended the event and loved tummy rubs. It was one of the things I remembered the most from the walk.
Another huge part of the Out of the Darkness walk is the opening ceremony. In the opening ceremony, we had several community members speak on their experiences with mental health. It was great to hear that we, as humans, all struggle with experiences in our lives; however, we are never alone in those struggles. The stores felt unifying, and I felt like I truly mattered in my community. People came from all over the United States just to come to the walk and support suicide prevention research. For me, I personally lost a friend in high school to suicide, and many others had similar experiences. One area I remember is having stickers of who you are walking for. For this walk, I was walking for Natalie. This event holds a special place in my heart, as it has affected my life.
I am so excited to see what the Out of the Darkness Walk has in store for this year. We already have speakers lined up for the out-of-the-darkness walk, most notably an ASU alumni who hope to make a difference financially for students and for those who have the burden of losing a loved one. Together, we can make sure people feel accepted, appreciated, and heard. If you would like to come to this year's walk, it will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at 11 am on the student services lawn on the Tempe campus.
Sammy Cristerna (He/Him)
Sophomore
BA Political Science, BA Psychology, BS Sociology