Seeds of Hope walk to raise awareness of suicide risk

The University of West Florida chapter of Students for Suicide Awareness (SSA) and the Lambda Beta chapter of Sigma Chi will host the second annual “Seeds of Hope” 5K community walk at the University of West Florida campus on Nov. 19.

According to statistics from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students and the third leading cause of death among all youth 15–24 years old. In the U.S., only accidents and homicides claim more young lives.

The Seeds of Hope walk coincides with the thirteenth annual International Survivors of Suicide Day, sponsored by AFSP.

“Our goal is to raise awareness through the mediums of music and art that suicide is the second leading cause of death on college campuses and can be prevented,” said Raela Marie Villanueva, advisor to the SSA at UWF.

“The walk is a way to bring together those who have survived the loss of a loved one to suicide, those who suffer from depression, as well as others in the community for a day of healing and hope.”

For more on this story, see the Nov. 17 issue of the Navarre Press.