作者：辛西娅·休伯特

2023年4月7日

他们是敬业的学者和学生领袖，表面上散发着自信。

然而，在内心，有时他们感到如此焦虑或沮丧，以至于他们很难起床。

At 萨克拉门托 State’s annual Out of the Darkness Campus Walk for Suicide Prevention on Thursday, April 6, they told their stories to a crowd of about 1,000 people. 他们说，交谈是预防自杀的关键之一。

“Too many of us are struggling in silence,” said Salma Pacheco, Associated Students 公司。 (ASI) president, her voice breaking with emotion. “I’m here because I battle with my mental health every day.”

帕切科说，她的家人也在与抑郁症作斗争。 她说，像“走出黑暗”这样的活动有助于就这些具有挑战性的情况展开对话，并为解决这些问题的研究和项目筹集资金。

讲话结束后，帕切科得到了总统罗伯特·s·尼尔森（Robert S. nelson）的拥抱，尼尔森的儿子赛斯（Seth）于2001年自杀身亡，年仅25岁。

“I ask that we support one another, that we look for signs that people are hurting and need us,” Nelsen said. “I ask that those who have those feelings speak to someone about them.”

The Out of the Darkness event, hosted by 学生健康及辅导服务, Active Minds 萨克拉门托 State, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, puts a spotlight on suicide prevention and mental health awareness, and raises funds for programs that support area residents in need of services.

This year’s event featured a health and wellness fair where participants could obtain information about crisis hotlines, domestic violence resources, services for veterans, and more. 来自犬类伙伴公司的治疗犬提供安慰，并让人微笑。

During the 2-mile trek across campus, walkers carried signs with sentiments including “Tomorrow Needs You” and “You Matter.” 参与者佩戴着代表失去亲人的彩色珠子。

统计数据显示，美国每年约有4.6万人死于自杀。 自杀是大学生死亡的主要原因之一。

囊状态 student Kamiya Turner, who is in the Family Studies and Human Development program, carried a sign that said she was supporting “The Unseen and The Unheard.”

“They are the ones who don’t have the ability to articulate what’s going on inside of them,” she said. 她说，特纳有朋友和家人患有抑郁症，其中一人曾试图自杀。

“I’m here for them and others who have gone through similar things.”

Another student, Alexandra Estrella, said she has long carried “invisible scars” from an abusive childhood and at times has been “scared of what I might do to myself.”

咨询和治疗帮助她控制了症状。

“My life mission now is to help others,” said Estrella, who serves as ASI’s vice president for University Affairs.

学生健康与咨询服务部健康与健康副主任劳拉·法肯斯坦（Lara Falkenstein）说，近1000名参与者为心理健康项目筹集了约1.46万美元。

“By showing up today, you are sending a message that mental health is as important as physical health,” Erica Brown, representing the 萨克拉门托 chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, told the crowd. “You are letting others know that they are not alone.

“Together we are making real and lasting change, and it’s all because of you.”

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