The Active Minds chapter on campus held their 2nd annual suicide prevention walk Saturday in honor of National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. The walk was exclusive to USI students with the exception of two guests per participant. 

Active Minds is a national nonprofit organization which encourages mental health, especially in young adults. Active Minds has a presence in over 1,000 schools, workplaces and communities and has held over 4,000 mental health events.

“Our main goal is to change the conversation about mental health and suicide prevention and make it more of an everyday conversation, ” said Brianna Aldana, president and founder of the Indiana Active Minds chapter.

Aldana said there were more people who showed up to the walk than she anticipated. With the help of the Activities Programming Board, Interfraternity council, Pan-Hellenic Council and other student organizations, attendance almost doubled from last year. Students who attended the event said they liked it and it allowed them to remember their lost loved ones. 

“I think it’s a really good idea,” said Chloe Smith, sophomore dental hygiene major. “I think it’s a really nice event put on by Brianna and her team, and I think it’s something that is easy, but at the same time, it’s super impactful.”

She said, “It just shows you how much you actually don’t realize that this stuff is around all the time, and you can really be there for other people, and something as simple as this can show you that.”

“So this has really been close to my heart just obviously as an organization, but I’ve also had family members who have committed suicide,” said Savannah Matthews, junior political science major. “So doing this walk is kind of in remembrance of them.”

After the walk, Active Minds showed a slideshow of family members and loved ones who have been lost to suicide.

“So last year, when we did this, I knew that I wanted to put together a slideshow presentation to view because I know that some of my members have lost family members or friends to suicide,” Aldana said. “Many people are affected by suicide yearly, and we just don’t know about it. So this was a good way for people so that they are still remembering the people that they care about, and it’s a good way to get with us and just honor the people that they’ve lost and still be talking about them.”

Smith said she could see Active Minds hosting this event once a month or every other month to continue to get students involved.

“I think you would see a lot more participation because you might have people that couldn’t come this month that will be able to come next month,” Smith said.

Active Minds and students who attended the event want other students to know if they are dealing with a mental illness or know someone who is, they are not alone. 

“It’s all going to be okay,” Matthews said. “I know you’re going through something right now, but push through it because nothing’s as bad as ending your life. That’s kind of the ultimate thing. You just need to push through it and know that it’s gonna be okay.”

Aldana said students should talk to those around them and not be afraid to ask them if they need help. She said it’s important to have these conversations and ask, “Are you thinking about hurting yourself?” She said if they’re thinking about that, it could be a crisis. 

“Talk to people that are close to you,” Aldana said. “If it’s somebody that you’re worried about, talk to them because a lot of people will think that if you talk to someone about suicide, and they’re thinking about it already, that it’ll put the thoughts in their head, and that is a giant myth. That’s not true.” 

For more information about USI’s Active Minds chapter, you can follow them on Instagram. Active Minds will have another walk in Spring 2022, known as the Out of the Darkness Walk. This walk will be hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. 

Mental health and suicide prevention resources: 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-272-8255 

USI Counseling and Psychological Services: 812-464-1867