Monica Short
ms008@marietta.edu
“Dear Dustin, I hope it is alright with you, but my son is marrying your daughter.” This heartfelt message was written in chalk on the sidewalk in memory of a victim of suicide. According to the American Foundation for the Prevention of Suicide, “ninety percent of people who die from suicide have a potentially treatable mental disorder at the time of their death – a disorder that often has gone unrecognized and untreated.”
Depression and suicide are issues that plague not only American society, but college life as a whole. Suicide is the second leading killer of peoples ages 15-24. Last Spring, one Marietta student, sophomore Alyssa Parker, realized the importance of this issue and began the process of creating a new student organization, Survivors of Suicide. Although new to campus, the student group has already held their first major fundraiser and awareness campaign.
After four months of planning, Marietta College Survivors of Suicide along with support from the AFPS held Marietta’s first “Out of the Darkness Walk” at Indian Acres Park on Sep. 13. The walk brought together over 100 students and locals alike, including Congressman Bill Johnson and his wife LeeAnn. LeeAnn has had her own experience with the suicide of close family members.
Participants in this walk raised a total of $6,533, more than double the organization’s goal. Much of the success of this event can be credited to Parker, who explains her connection and devotion to suicide awareness and prevention.
“I am passionate about this issue because I am a survivor,” she said. “I have lost two friends, but I almost lost myself…if it wasn’t for some people in my life, I wouldn’t be here today. And I want to be that person, that reason for others.”
If you or anyone you know is contemplating suicide, or struggling with any mental health concerns, please seek help immediately.
Marietta College Center for Health & Wellness- 740-376-4477
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline- 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
