‘Suicide Prevention Walk’ raises awareness 

By Haylyne Frederic

Contributor

To honor the lives of students with mental health issues or family members who have experienced loss, the Wellbeing Center organized a Suicide Prevention Walk, with multiple mental health stands run by different organizations. 

 Allyson Regis, coordinator of the Wellbeing Center states how mental health is often put in the dark and a lot of young people who are suffering do so in silence expressing that if we can bring these issues to light how we can be one step closer to actually being there for someone. 

 “I think for me, it means shedding light on something that’s often hidden in people’s minds and people’s experiences,” Regis said. “So we can all support one another so people don’t feel alone and oftentimes people may feel really hopeless, thinking about suicide or someone who might be struggling.” 

Regis understands the difficulty behind speaking up, so the walk was held to make this topic a safer thing to discuss. 

Instead of mental health being a controversial or taboo topic, the focus is on the importance of feeling comfortable discussing emotions.

This is crucial for young people and those struggling with suicidal ideation.

“It can feel like such a challenge. So, the hope for today to be able to bring together resources,” Regis said. 

  Regis explained the lack of mental health resources that students are aware of can make students feel uncomfortable seeking help or speaking out.

“Sometimes what part of the battle is people don’t even know where to start or how to get support around it to talk about this and that it doesn’t have to feel like such a bad word to say that hey, I’m struggling and I need help,” Regis said. 

 Katie Duquette, a second year graduate student at the University of New Haven working on a master’s in clinical mental health counselling, represented mental health counselling. 

 “Mental health is well-being and taking care of yourself in any facet,” Duquette said. 

 Duquette understands that incorporating self-care into her daily endeavors does a lot more than people think it does.

In addition, Duquette said that self-care practices and helping others are essential to well-being. 

  “I make sure it’s important to myself as well to take care of my own mental health whether that’s doing my own personal therapy or just giving back to my community making sure they achieve their own mental health wellness too,” Duquette said. 

Sociology and psychology major Tatiana Harris, a senior, takes note of the lack of mental health awareness that goes around in the African American community.

Harris said  how this walk brought together many people she knows and emphasizes its personal significance and the importance it holds for her.

“The mental health awareness idea. That’s important especially for African American students, it’s not really recognized as much. I see a lot of Black African American people out here that are very important to us. It means a lot. So I came to support,” Harris said.