SMAC continues to advocate for mental health resources on campus
Sisters Making A Change members sitting on the campus sidewalk on the day of the Out of the Darkness Walk (photo courtesy of Ana Roman).
On Sunday, Apr. 7, 2024, Sisters Making a Change (SMAC) hosted their annual Out of the Darkness Geneseo campus walk. This annual walk of campus is part of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s (AFSP) signature student fundraising series “Out of the Darkness Campus Walks.” The fundraiser aims to engage youth and young adults in the ongoing fight to prevent suicide.
The opening ceremony for the walk began at noon, but registration took place beforehand. After students registered, they had the option to pick out “honor beads” or beaded necklaces to wear. These necklaces were categorized by color with each holding a different meaning. For example, wearing gold beads meant that you had lost a parent or guardian to suicide while wearing green beads meant that you had personally struggled.
The walk began around 12:30 p.m. and participants followed the route until returning to the on-campus starting point. SMAC set a fundraising goal of $10,000 for the AFSP and their website currently displays that they have raised $4,537. Participants of the event had the option to fundraise alongside a team or individually, with any individual that raised over $100 receiving an official Out of the Darkness Walk t-shirt and the possibility of even more merch based on their final amount. The teams that raised the most money this year included SMAC, Delta Phi Epsilon, Hips ‘n Harmony, and Alpha Kappa Psi.
All of the money raised for AFSP will go towards funding scientific research pertaining to suicide, educating the public about mental health issues and suicide prevention, advocating for public policies about mental health, and supporting survivors of suicide loss and those struggling with suicide.
Throughout the fundraising process and during the walk, SMAC reminded everyone that they are not alone, they are loved, and there are resources available. SUNY Geneseo also offers many resources to students being affected by suicide or any mental health struggles. Their list of services can be found on the Geneseo website under “Mental Health Quick Resource List,” and include contact information for various counseling services on campus and hotlines available to students.
To access the SUNY crisis text line, which is a 24/7 service, text GOT5U or any other message to 741-741. There is also a peer-to-peer assistance hotline which is securely staffed with SUNY Albany students. It is available when classes are in session and from 1 p.m. to midnight. You can also call (518) 442-5777, or email midearth@albany.edu.
The Geneseo website also lists contact information for hotlines that cover a wide range of student needs. These include mental health, substance abuse issues, emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters, sexual assault, COVID emotional support, and LGBTQ-specific challenges. The contact information for all of these hotlines is listed under “Local and National Hotlines (24/7 when noted).”
The sisters of SMAC and all college personnel want SUNY Geneseo students to know that they are not alone. Help is available to all college students regardless of the issue and you do not have to face your issues alone, as there is always someone who wants to help. For all immediate emergencies contact (585) 245-5222 (University Police), 911, or 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline).