The walk is a fundraiser for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, an organization funding research, education and treatment programs for suicide prevention, ASK.LISTEN.SAVE Co-President Chelsey Evensen said. This organization specifically gears its research toward mental health in college-aged students, Evensen said.
The event also helps raise awareness about mental health issues and works to break the stigmas surrounding the topic.
“The main goal is to come together and honor those who we have lost to suicide and other mental health issues,” Evenson said. “It’s also a therapeutic event for a lot of people to walk in their honor or as a survivor of their own mental health struggle.”
The event began at 11 a.m. outside of Sellery Hall, where attendees heard from speakers as well as a spoken word performance from a student in First Wave.
Dean of Students Lori Berquam voiced her support for those struggling with mental health issues, urging students to reach out to one another and reminding attendees the college-aged population is the least likely group of people to seek out support.
“Everybody’s life is worth living,” Berquam said. “I want you to remember those who aren’t here and more importantly reach out to those who are and connect with them, for it’s through those connections that we continue to breathe life into who we are.”
ASK.LISTEN.SAVE walk coordinator Leah Shapiro spoke about her personal experiences with depression and bipolar disorder.
Shapiro credited her strong support system for helping her get through these tough times, along with therapy and medications.
“I have learned that instead of sucking it up and dealing with it, you should suck it up and ask for help,” Shapiro said. “Life can be hard, but it can also be truly wonderful, and I’m glad I stuck around to experience it.”
UW women’s a cappella group Tangled Up in Blue performed before participants kicked off the 3.8-mile walk along the Lakeshore Path.
Shapiro said this event has won No. 1 Fundraising Walk in the Nation out of all participating campus suicide prevention walks the past two years. This year, the organization saw 375 pre-registered individuals and 35 teams, she said in an email to The Badger Herald.
“One of our biggest goals for the walk is to raise campus-wide awareness about mental illness and suicide,” Shapiro said. “We want to let people know that they are not alone in these struggles, that there is hope and to introduce them to resources on campus and in the Madison community.”
ASK.LISTEN.SAVE works year-round with other groups on campus to raise awareness about mental health, co-hosting events with organizations such as YES+, To Write Love On Her Arms and Psychology Club.
They also work with two other mental health-related clubs on campus to coordinate efforts to make the biggest impact possible, Shapiro said.
“[Mental health] is a heavy topic for college students,” Evensen said. “We find that a lot of good ways to get people to talk is to create fun events and educate them without them knowing it.”
