About 175 people walked on Saturday for a cause not commonly talked about — suicide prevention.
The walk raised $5,578 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Ball State is the first Indiana university walk for AFSP.
Freshman psychology major Chloe Brattain said she went to the Ball State chapter of Alive Campaign for help in something that could not only raise funds for their cause, but console people who have lost loved ones to suicide.
"This is something we need to talk about, and this is an important issue that really has affected so many people since so many people are here," she said. "I know it is scary to think about, but it is something we really need to talk about."
Registration opened at 11 a.m., where about 70 walkers who didn't register online signed up. About 130 people registered in advance for the event online, but not all of them attended, Brattain said.
Lisa Brattain, Indiana chairwoman of AFSP, said the campus walk's purpose was to spread awareness with a generation that is more accepting of the idea depression as an illness.
"As a society, we don't recognize depression as an illness yet, but if you cut your arm, you go to the doctor. If you have diabetes, you go to the doctor," she said. "Depression is an illness and is treatable if you go to the doctor. This is the beginning of a conversation and it builds a community."
Local band The Goodnight Fields played from 11 a.m. until the walk began at noon. People who helped with the event spoke to participants about the nationwide damage suicide has on people of all ages.
Sophomore communications major and volunteer Tyler Fox said suicide prevention awareness is the only way to reach large quantities of people contemplating suicide.
"I think it is important to spread awareness because spreading awareness saves lives, and that is the only thing we can do to try to prevent suicide from happening," he said.
The walk took about two hours to complete.
Participants began walking south on McKinley Avenue, and then continued around the Quad, back down McKinley, around the Whitinger Business Building and Noyer Complex, to the Duck Pond and then via McKinley to the Atrium patio.
A remembrance spot was also on the path for people to write notes to loved ones lost to suicide.
Counseling Center psychologist Jay Zimmerman said the suicide prevention awareness walk was a good way to remind people how to help depressed loved ones.
"The completed suicides are usually the first suicide attempt that people make," he said. "If you see a friend who you think they're depressed, talk to them. You have to talk to them."
Students who didn't participate in the walk can still help with suicide prevention on campus. The Alive Campaign is a suicide prevention group that provides ways for struggling students to cope with depression.
Ball State Alive Campaign executive director Jonathan Huff said the group hopes to start fundraising more so they can have more events. The Alive Campaign meets at 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center.
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