Suicide is always a difficult subject to discuss, especially considering the stigmas surrounding mental health and the way suicide affects the family and friends of victims.

But, it is also a very important topic, and students decided it needed to be addressed.

Saturday, March 17, Waynesburg hosted an Out of Darkness Campus Walk to fight suicide.

All were was invited to attend and participate, and around 200 people registered for the event, the first one to take place on campus.

The event was set up into three parts; the pre-walk, the walk and the post-walk.

The pre-walk was in the old gymnasium next to the Rudy Marisa Field House, where clubs and organizations were set up at tables.

Each one of the clubs did a different activity or sale pertaining to the theme of what makes people relaxed when they are stressed.

Some of the clubs and their activities were the Art Club with coloring pages, the Psychology Club with a “Wall of Hope”, the football team with a corn hole game. The Lamplighters Choir had a table with aromatherapy, Denny Hall residents with kinetic sand, Bonner Scholars had candy and the Chemistry Club had slime.

The walk, officially a 5k, took place around the four parks near the university at 2 p.m.

The football team led the walk, holding a banner.

Attendees moved back into the Marisa Field House for the post-walk event later on, where the Worship Team led praise and worship, and the clubs and organizations opened their tables again.

Pizza that was donated from local shops, including Scotty’s Pizza, Dominos and Pizza Hut, was offered free to those who attended.

Those who donated $100 or more received a free t-shirt, and if people signed up for the event through the Day of Service registration on the same day, they received a shirt as well.

Junior music ministry and arts administration major Briana Ryan, came up with the idea for Waynesburg to host the event after speaking over the summer to Jennifer Sikora, who works with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, to organize suicide prevention events.

“We went through a lot last year as a campus and, personally, I’ve gone through a lot in the past,” said Ryan. “The biggest issue is that people think they are suffering alone, and this event brings the community together, the faculty, the students, to show them that they’re not, but it doesn’t glorify it or memorialize it, it’s just a relaxing atmosphere to be in.”

Ryan said that the main purpose of the event is to create awareness in the community and with the faculty and students of Waynesburg University.

“[We are] showing people that they’re not alone and hoping that people will reach out for help if they need it,” said Ryan. “I suffered from anxiety and depression for years, and it’s really hard to talk to people, because you don’t know who understands, and if I had known back then that people around me had also gone through it, I may have asked for help a lot sooner. So, that’s what I want this to be. I want the people who are suffering to realize they’re not alone, and that they can talk to people.”

Senior Melanie Byler, exercise science and athletic training major who is also a Bonner Scholar, is the leader of IBP Suicide Prevention on campus.

She worked with Ryan to facilitate meetings, plan the event, and accomplish organizational tasks.

Byler said that an objective of hers is to show students that they don’t have to go through their struggles by themselves.

“A personal goal of mine is that this event would bring hope and just show that you’re not alone in your struggles and that people on this campus are advocates for you,” said Byler. “It’s so easy to feel alone in college and feel like you’re the only one dealing with issues, but that’s just not true.”

Although Ryan said fundraising was not their main priority within the event, many students, community members and families donated to the cause.

$3,570 was raised by the end of the event. The money will go to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

“It’s just above my expectations, to be honest,” said Ryan.

According to Ryan, some of the money comes back to the university through the training of faculty and staff in how to look for signs and handle situations on campus where a person might be a danger to themselves.

Ryan and Byler said the university is planning on making the walk an annual event, and they are already talking about ideas for the event next year.

They believe the subject is important and the university can continue to benefit greatly from this event in future years.

“Four suicides in four years is what has happened here on campus. So, I think it’s time it’s talked about,” said Ryan.