New Mexico State University’s Office of Health Promotion will host its second annual Out of Darkness Campus Walk Saturday, April 26, joining hundreds of other college campuses across the United States in shining a light on a suicide awareness and prevention.
The two-mile walk around NMSU’s Las Cruces campus starts at 10 a.m. It is free and open to participants of all ages, including community members. Check-in begins at 9 a.m.
The walk is part of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s student fundraising series, designed to engage youth and young adults in the fight to prevent suicide, the third-leading cause of death among individuals 15 to 24 years old.
“Our walk focuses on building community and coming together to remember the lives we’ve lost to suicide,” said Sheena Merino, mental health education specialist for the Office of Health Promotion. “Our goal is to bring hope and support those in crisis as a community.”
The route begins at the Corbett Center Student Union outdoor stage, makes it way east toward the Educational Services Center and cuts through Alumni Pond and the parking lot near the Chamisa Village housing complex. It then heads west on Stewart Street and moves north on South Espina Street before hitting the last leg along the Horseshoe and ending on the International Mall outside the Juniper Hall and Garcia Hall residences.
Participants may share messages of hope and healing and carry honor beads in memory of loved ones lost to suicide.
The walk will also feature several on-site activities and free mental health resources offered by campus and community organizations. The event will conclude around noon.
NMSU held its first Out of Darkness Campus Walk in 2024, drawing more than 100 participants. This year, participation is on track to exceed last year’s turnout.
“If you’re looking for support or resources, please register and come out to the walk,” Merino said.
NMSU’s Office of Health Promotion has launched a campaign to raise $10,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in conjunction with its Out of Darkness Campus Walk. Participants who raise or donate $100 will receive an official Out of Darkness Campus Walk T-shirt.
Registration is required and continues through the day of the walk. Participants may register with a team or individually. For more information, email merinos1@nmsu.edu.
If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the United States is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org.
NMSU students and staff have 24/7 access to medical and counseling services via TimelyCare. Additional resources are available at https://nmsu.news/resources.
-30-
CUTLINE: New Mexico State University’s Office of Health Promotion will host its second annual Out of Darkness Campus Walk Saturday, April 26, on NMSU’s Las Cruces campus to help in the fight to prevent suicide. (Courtesy)