Claiming more than 36,000 lives annually, suicide is the second-leading cause of death for college students and the third-leading cause of death for youth between the ages of 15 and 24.
A group of Ball State students will raise awareness of suicide prevention on Saturday by hosting the second Out of the Darkness Campus Walk.
The 3 to 5 mile walks are taking place in several communities across the country. Proceeds of the event will benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Through fundraising and participation, students are hoping to raise money for AFSP's vital research and education programs that are geared toward preventing suicide.
Chloe Brattain, a sophomore psychology major, started the first Ball State Out of the Darkness Campus Walk in 2011. Brattain, whose brother died by suicide during her freshman year of high school, said when she arrived at Ball State, she saw the need for such an event.
"I saw that Ball State didn't have a walk, and I thought that it would be a great thing to add to the university," Brattain said.
Mark Mossner, a junior risk management and insurance major and executive director of the Alive Campaign, is involved with the event, and is looking forward to seeing more students involved.
"There's a lot more discussion about [the walk] on campus," Mossner said. "A lot of students have come up to us and said they're looking forward to the event and they want to be involved."
The walk, which is somewhat based on the Relay For Life walks that raise money for cancer, will begin at 10 a.m. After registering, participants will be given the opportunity to hear from guest speakers including someone from the Counseling Center, an AFSP representative and a Ball State student who will be sharing her experience with suicide.
After the speakers, walkers will begin the walk, carrying balloons that represent those they've lost to suicide.
"It's kind of a journey they go through with their experience of suicide," Mossner said.
At the end of the walk, participants generally release the balloons as a way of remembrance.
Brattain said she is hoping the event will help change the way people view suicide, whether they have been affected or not.
"People tend to stay quiet about it, because there's a stigma surrounding suicide that it's shameful and that it's sinful and that it's selfish, so people just don't talk about it," Brattain said.
Brattain said depression is a disease just like any other yet, unfortunately, suicide is often the outcome.
"It's a lot bigger of a deal than people even realize," she said.
With nearly $2,500 collected and 84 people signed up, Brattain said she hopes the event will be as good as last year, if not better.
"Whether students have experienced suicide in their lifetime or not, it's really great to be there," Brattain said. "We're open to everyone coming out because it's a really great cause."
Anyone interested in participating in the event can register online at campuswalks.org until noon on Friday. Participants will still be able to register from 10 to 11 a.m. on the day of the event.
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