Out of the Darkness: Canisius community walks for suicide prevention

By: Madison Howard, Features Editor

Nearly 3,000 people gathered at Canalside on Saturday, Sept. 19, but they did not all arrive for the same reason. Some came to remember someone they had lost, others came to support someone who has struggled with their mental health and some came simply to stand alongside a community that believes suicide prevention deserves to be talked about.

Together, they participated in the Buffalo Out of the Darkness Walk, an event organized by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). The annual walk brings together people affected by suicide while raising awareness and encouraging conversations about suicide prevention. For many participants, it is a chance to honor people they have lost while reminding those who are struggling that they are not alone.

Members of the Canisius University community were among those gathered along the waterfront. Multiple Canisius athletic teams participated in the event, including Acrobatics and Tumbling. Resident Assistants (RAs) were also in attendance as part of their responsibilities within the Canisius residential community.

For Madison Cord, a member of Acrobatics and Tumbling, the walk demonstrated the importance of having a community where people can be vulnerable and share their experiences. “The Out of the Darkness Walk creates a community while simultaneously shedding light on suicide prevention. Many come to realize that they are not alone in their struggles and that they have an entire community backing them,” said Cord.

For another member of the team, Erkya Crossman, the experience became personal as she looked around at the people being remembered at the walk. Seeing the faces of people who had died by suicide made her reflect on her own experiences and the importance of reaching out for help. “A moment that stuck with me during the walk was seeing the faces of people who had committed suicide and seeing myself in those people and realizing that it could’ve been me if I didn’t reach out,” Crossman said.

Crossman’s experience reflects one of the central messages of the event: people who are struggling should not have to face those struggles alone. The walk gave participants a space to remember those they had lost while also recognizing the importance of supporting the people who are still here.

For Canisius RA Brendan Hammond, the event emphasized the importance of removing shame from conversations surrounding suicide. “I hope people take away that suicide is not a failure, nor a shortcoming. It is a real, scary epidemic facing society that needs to be addressed and not shamed. “The Out of the Darkness Walk helps to raise awareness about that fact and encourage individuals to examine the way they can support friends, family and community members going through a rough patch,” said Hammond.

The participation of Canisius students brought the university community into a much larger conversation happening across Buffalo. Athletic teams, RAs and other members of the Canisius community stood alongside thousands of participants, showing that suicide prevention is not limited to one person or one group.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention organizes Out of the Darkness events across the country as part of its work surrounding suicide prevention, education, research and advocacy. The walks provide a space for people to remember those they have lost, connect with others and encourage conversations that can help reduce the stigma surrounding suicide.

Nearly 3,000 people came to Canalside, each carrying a different story. For some, the walk was about grief. For others, it was about hope. For everyone, it was about standing beside someone who may need support.

For a few hours, those individual stories became part of something larger: a community willing to walk together, listen to one another and remind each other that reaching out can make a difference.