UNO students fundraise to prevent suicide

The University Center at UNO
The University Center at UNO | Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
A group of students from the University of New Orleans (UNO) and leaders from the Office of Counseling Services recently raised over $1,000 in funds, which will be dedicated to suicide prevention.

There were 16 students who joined the Out of the Darkness Walk, which is an annual fundraising event organized by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

The walk was hosted on Sept. 10 in honor of World Suicide Prevention Day. This is an important event, as suicide is the second leading cause of death for U.S. university and college students.

UNO leaders believe that it is crucial to make outreach initiatives on campus. These can be useful for helping to increase suicide prevention awareness in addition to informing people about resources that they can find if they are suicidal.

“Unfortunately, suicide and mental illness are still extremely stigmatized and therefore it’s important to develop creative ways that students can feel comfortable to get involved in these types of efforts," Nina Stewart, counselor and coordinator of outreach for UNO counseling services, said. "The walk was a safe, non-threatening outlet for students to come together as members of the UNO community while supporting national efforts for suicide prevention. I have had friends and family who have lost someone to suicide, and I know that such a loss can impact an entire community.”