The Dean’s Leadership Program (DLP) held its 10th annual Out of the Darkness Walk on the Hawk Hill campus Nov. 3 to raise awareness for suicide prevention and promote healthy conversations about mental health.
Around 150 students walked a loop from Sweeney Field to Barbelin Beach after listening to student and faculty speakers discuss their own struggles with mental health.
Caroline Freese ’25, a co-chair for the event with Marguerite McWeeney ’25, said the walk was founded to start conversations about mental health and suicide awareness after a member of the DLP took his own life.
“It shouldn’t be a conversation that makes people feel bad about themselves, and it’s something that we should all be talking about,” Freese said. “It makes the community a better and safer place for everyone in it.”
Luke Ortolani ’25, a student who walked in the event, said the walk reminds community members that they are not alone.
“I think a lot of people, especially in college, are going through transitional periods in their life where you don’t really know who you are,” Ortolani said. “People may think it’s this big thing, but it’s a part of life, and we’re all in this together.”
Faith Adedokun ’27, the DLP events chair, said it was important for St. Joe’s to send a clear message to its community on issues of mental health.
“It’s important for students to find a place to come together and think about the struggles they’ve faced, to honor and acknowledge that and then move forward to having a better state of mind as a student body,” Adedokun said.
Michael McNicholas ’27, the outreach co-chair for the DLP and a speaker at the event, said he wanted to destigmatize and change the language of how people talk about mental health, especially since these conversations can be difficult.
“Mental health is a topic that can be very hard to talk about, but it’s something that we all have experienced, have struggled with, have had our ups and downs with,” McNicholas said. “In events like this, we’re reinforcing that idea that [this] is something that we are all united on, and that we shouldn’t have to be fearful to be open and honest because we’re all human. We all have our own battles, our own victories.”
In a written speech delivered at the event, McWeeney stressed the importance of small actions.
“I was compelled by the idea of talking about something that so many of us go through yet fight through silently,” McWeeney wrote. “If you take anything away from today, know that you are not alone.”
Members of the St. Joe’s community seeking support are encouraged to contact the following resources:
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), 610-660-1090
Campus Ministry, 610-660-1030
The Office of Student Outreach & Support, 610-660-1149
The Jesuit community, 610-660-1400
Employee Assistance Program, 866-799-2728
