The annual Walk of Hope event on September 30 brought the Stony Brook University community together to raise awareness about suicide prevention. Photos by Rachael Eyler.
Stony Brook University’s annual Walk of Hope brought students, staff and community members together on September 30 to conclude a month of mental health-focused activities and raise awareness about suicide prevention.
Organized by the Center for Prevention and Outreach (CPO), the walk was one of many events to connect students with on-campus and local resources.
Christine Szaraz, associate director of CPO and survivor advocate, welcomed attendees and spoke about the importance of making support visible. Student leaders and athletes, she said, can help create a culture where people know that “it’s okay not to be okay, but it’s not okay to struggle alone.”
Tricia McGinnis, CPO’s coordinator of mental health promotion, said the walk aims to show students that they are not alone and that help, as well as hope, is available. She highlighted coping and problem-solving skills as preventative and protective measures and noted that CPO offers workshops, including Handling the Hard Stuff, to help students work on those skills.
Vice President for Student Affairs Rick Gatteau encouraged attendees to check in with one another, listen with compassion and help, when possible, connect people to support. “No one, no one, is alone,” he said, inviting students to connect with Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), CPO, the Student Support Team, Student Health Services and TimelyCare.
Several campus organizations tabled at the event, including Active Minds, Recreation and Wellness, Thrive, the Student Accessibility Support Center, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Rise Above Suicide. Participants could write messages on “Rocks of Hope” and use sticky notes to share words of kindness for their peers.
Cansin Gumus, a senior in health sciences and student assistant at CAPS, described the range of support available there, including counseling, group therapy, medication management and connections to outside resources. Students do not need to be in crisis to seek help, she shared; they can reach out to talk through a difficult week, process emotions or learn coping strategies.
Gumus also urged attendees to notice when someone may be struggling and to ask how they are doing. “You don’t have to be a mental health professional to support someone,” she said.
Students can listen, share campus resources, accompany a friend to CAPS or make an anonymous report to the care team if they are concerned about someone who may not be ready to seek help.
Student athletes from teams across campus, including track and field, cross country, cheer and dance, swimming and diving, basketball, baseball and softball, also attended.
After a moment of silence for people lost to or impacted by suicide, participants began the march carrying various posters reading phrases like “you matter” and “you are enough,” while calling out the chant: “Speak up, reach out, you are not alone.”
The event aligned with broader efforts by State University of New York to increase mental health awareness and connect students with support. SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said, “Mental health is health, and across SUNY’s campuses, we recognize that addressing and protecting mental health is an essential component of achieving academic excellence and student success.”
If you or someone you know needs help, reach out to CAPS at 631-632-6720. If you are in crisis and need to connect with CAPS, call the crisis line at 855-509-5742.
— Lily Miller
