Out of the Darkness Walk raises suicide prevention awareness

With suicide as one of the leading causes of death among ages 15-24, Liberty University’s Campus Recreation Wellness Program hosted an Out of the Darkness Walk around campus on Saturday to help raise awareness of prevention and remember those who have died by suicide.

Out of the Darkness Walks are held across the country to raise money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and to make mental health awareness a national priority. This was the third year Liberty has hosted a walk. Liberty has raised over $3,000 from this year’s walk for AFSP. Donations will continue to be accepted through June.

Around 90 people participated in the walk, with many sporting blue T-shirts with the AFSP motto, “Hope Walks Here.” The 1.3-mile walk started on the Academic Lawn, continued to the bookstore, then wrapped around Campus East and through the pedestrian tunnel connecting participants back to main campus. The sidewalks were lined with chalk illustrations, verses, and inspirational quotes.

A new part of the walk this year was the involvement of local suicide prevention groups from the Lynchburg community, including Horizon Behavioral Health, Living On Incorporated, and the Liberty chapter of Morgan’s Message. Liberty also invited community members to the walk.

Before the walk began, Sharon Olowoyo, assistant director of wellness programming for Campus Recreation, led the participants in prayer. Lorrie Eanes, a mental health advocate and board member of the Virginia AFSP chapter welcomed everyone.

“You have each had a role in making sure that AFSP continues to be a presence in our communities and continues to advance the mission of saving lives and sharing hope,” she said. “Because of the support we see in communities across the (country), we can continue to fund research, educate our localities about suicide prevention, and advocate for mental health legislation that normalize conversations about mental health.”

In an interview, Olowoyo said one goal for the walk was to help students feel equipped with all the resources they need to battle against suicidal thinking.

“We are working really hard to show our students that we care for them, we hear them, we see them, and we’re really here to help them,” she said.

Olowoyo added that suicide is more prevalent than ever with the rising use of social media and technology.

“Technology and social media can be amazing tools, but we’re having more and more of our young adults being put in vulnerable, terrible positions. It’s our duty as the community to be there for them.”

She said Christian representation within suicide prevention is important.

“As Christians, we need to cultivate safe spaces. People need help today, and it is good to have Christians championing safe environments. Although Christians are not supposed to be of the world, the world does affect us, and we need to be prepared so we are not caught unaware. At Liberty, we are Training Champions for Christ to go out there and help people, not being ignorant about topics like this that are really important in today’s world.”

Many student groups and LU departments were represented at the walk, including the Department of Public Health and Public Health Student Association, Campus Recreation, Liberty Cheerleading, and more. LU Pastoral Counseling & Care had a table set up, along with LU One, Liberty’s Office of Disability Accommodation Support, and more.

“We believe it is really important to show up for mental health and suicide prevention and really just make sure that as ambassadors of this campus we don’t only support this cause, but we walk with people and show up for those who are struggling,” said sophomore nursing student Kaylen Howard, a member of Liberty Cheerleading.

“It’s super important that as Christians we practice what we preach by walking alongside people and letting them know that it’s not a shame to be struggling with this, that there is help, and we can be (walking through it) with them,” added her teammate, freshman strategic communication student Maddie Santos.

Carl Trost, board member of AFSP, said he hoped attendees at the walk learned that they aren’t alone. He said it’s important for the local community to partner together to raise awareness of suicide prevention.

“The more organizations are involved, the greater the chance is that we’re going to catch somebody who may be struggling with thoughts of suicide,” he said. “Even people of faith struggle with dark spaces, and the more interconnected we are, the greater opportunity we have to sneak in a little light and hope.”