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Press Release
STUDENTS TAKE TO THE STREETS TO FIGHT SUICIDE
Over a Hundred Walks Being Held Nationwide Through June 2018
OLIVET, MI — FEBRUARY 26 — Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, yet suicide is preventable. More than 50 to 100 people from throughout the Olivet College community are expected to participate in the Olivet College Out of the Darkness Campus Walk hosted by the Marching Comets and the AFSP’s Michigan Chapter at 9:00 a.m., Saturday, April 14, in the Olivet College Square. This fundraising walk supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s local and national education and advocacy programs and its bold goal to reduce the annual suicide rate 20 percent by 2025. “We walk to raise awareness about this important health issue. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people aged 15-34. We hope that by walking we save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide,” said AFSP Michigan Area Director, Steve Windom.
The Olivet College Out of the Darkness Campus Walk is one of more than 150 Out of the Darkness Campus Walks being held nationwide this year. The walks are expected to unite more than 25 thousand young walkers and raise over a million dollars for suicide prevention efforts. This will be the first ever Out of the Darkness Campus Walk hosted at Olivet College.
Speakers at the Olivet College Out of the Darkness Campus Walk will include the Michigan Area Director of the AFSP, Steve Windom, AFSP advocate, Vicky Mennare, Olivet College Director of Bands, Jeremy Duby, and Olivet College Psychology Professors, Dr. John Moore and Dr. Elisa Geiss.
“These walks are about turning hope into action,” said AFSP CEO Robert Gebbia. “Suicide is a serious problem, but it’s a problem we can solve. The research has shown us how to fight suicide, and if we keep up the fight the science is only going to get better, our culture will get smarter about mental health, and we’ll be able to save more people from dying from depression and other mental health conditions.”
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. AFSP creates a culture that’s smart about mental health through education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, and with a public policy office in Washington, D.C., AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states with programs and events nationwide. AFSP celebrates 30 years of service to the suicide prevention movement. Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report, and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.