Five students from around the country took their lives in September, following harassment and bullying aimed at their perceived sexual orientations. Those students garnered national attention from Ellen Degeneres, Margaret Cho and others. But the chair of a local walk to memorialize suicide victims said the event is not just about victims in the gay community.
“We all go through identity issues, whether you’re gay, whether you’re straight, whether you’re male or female,” said Leslie Arend, chair of the Out of the Darkness Walk fundraiser. “I think it’s sad that people are putting the focus on just (the gay community) alone because we all go through those issues.”
The walk, sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, wrapped up its fifth year Sunday at Fred Beekman Park. It raises money and awareness for research and education.
“It’s about trying to get people to come to get services,” said Paul Granello, associate professor of counselor education at Ohio State. “If people would encourage people to get care early, we would be able to avoid the unnecessary loss of young people.”
Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among college students in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“There’s high stress, and people aren’t necessarily with their families,” said Leah Abel, a third-year in psychology. “These kids can be trying to handle a job, handle a social life and handle academic stress all at the same time.”
Abel is the co-chair of Buckeyes Campaigning Against Suicide, a student group that identifies resources on campus for students who are emotionally stressed or suicidal.
The 1,022 participants in the Columbus walk raised more than $57,000 through donations and a raffle, which offered prizes such as gift cards to Marathon and Aveda. Half of the proceeds from the event will go to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and the other half will be used to support local education and research efforts regarding suicide prevention.
Students experiencing depression or suicidal thoughts are encouraged to call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK.
