Jay Gogue, Interim President of the NMSU System | Official Website
Jay Gogue, Interim President of the NMSU System | Official Website
New Mexico State University's Office of Health Promotion is set to host its second annual Out of Darkness Campus Walk on Saturday, April 26. This event is part of a nationwide effort to raise awareness and prevent suicide, joining hundreds of other college campuses in the United States.
The walk spans two miles around the Las Cruces campus, beginning at 10 a.m., and is open to participants of all ages, including community members, with check-in starting at 9 a.m.
This initiative is part of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's student fundraising series, aimed at engaging young people in preventing suicide, the third-leading cause of death among those aged 15 to 24.
Sheena Merino, a mental health education specialist at the Office of Health Promotion, expressed the event's intention: “Our walk focuses on building community and coming together to remember the lives we’ve lost to suicide. Our goal is to bring hope and support those in crisis as a community.”
The route will start at the Corbett Center Student Union outdoor stage, and then make its way across various campus locations, including Alumni Pond and South Espina Street, before concluding on the International Mall near Juniper Hall and Garcia Hall residences.
Participants can share messages of hope, carry honor beads in memory of loved ones lost to suicide, and access several on-site activities and free mental health resources provided by campus and community organizations. The event is scheduled to end around noon.
The inaugural walk in 2024 saw over 100 participants, and this year’s turnout is expected to surpass that number.
“If you’re looking for support or resources, please register and come out to the walk,” Merino encouraged.
Additionally, the Office of Health Promotion is running a campaign to raise $10,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, with participants eligible for an official T-shirt if they raise or donate $100.
Registration is mandatory and available through the day of the walk, with options to register individually or as part of a team. More information can be found by emailing merinos1@nmsu.edu.
For those who require assistance, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the United States can be accessed by calling or texting 988, or via online chat at 988lifeline.org. NMSU also offers 24/7 medical and counseling services through TimelyCare, along with additional resources available at https://nmsu.news/resources.
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