The 2026 ASU Out of the Darkness Campus Walk event focused on suicide prevention with numerous tabling organizations, speeches and a mile community walk around the ASU Tempe campus honoring those who died by suicide and showing support for survivors.
Devils 4 Devils, a student-led organization for engagement, outreach and training for building an empathic community, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, hosted the walk on March 21.
Kate MacDonald, the executive director for the AFSP Arizona chapter, said the mission behind the event is to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.
“We’re just really trying to help destigmatize mental health and let people know that mental health is as important as physical health,” she said.
The fundraiser is a main part of the event. At the time of the walk, the sum raised was about $15,000. This money helps support research and advocacy at a national and state level, as well as educational programming, MacDonald said.
She also said she likes how the event is a combination of connecting community members and providing them with resources.
MacDonald said the event raises awareness “so that if somebody, maybe, is afraid to pick up the phone or walk into one of those places, now they know somebody, and they’ve made a connection, so it’s easier for them to do.”
One of the significant parts of the event is the Honor Beads Ceremony. Honor Beads are bead necklaces that have colors symbolizing different connections to the cause.
During the ceremony, each color is explained, and the attendees are asked to lift their necklaces into the air to reinforce a connection between people who might have gone through a similar experience.
Nicole Sandoval, a freshman studying psychology, went to the stage wearing gold beads, which represent the loss of a parent.
Sandoval shared that her mother died by suicide. She said that in her family, mental health was always talked about, and her parents always made her feel supported, helping manage her own struggles.
“Taking care of yourself is not selfish, and it is not something that you earn after taking care of everyone else,” Sandoval said. “It is something that you are allowed to do simply because you exist.”
In her speech, Sandoval heavily emphasized the importance of self-care, noting that it does not have to be grand. Sometimes, it can be as simple as speaking to oneself with the same care and compassion one would offer a friend.
“If my mom taught me anything, it’s how powerful and fulfilling it can be to care for others,” Sandoval said. “But if losing her taught me anything, it is that we cannot pour endlessly without refilling ourselves.”
Kathryn Tapp, a doctoral student studying criminology and criminal justice, brought her dog, Gus, to the walk. She said that animals have remarkable comforting powers, and others tend to smile when Gus is around.
Tapp said this was her third Out of the Darkness Walk at ASU. The first time she did the walk was the year after her friend died by suicide. This year, along with previous years, she walks for him.
She said the event gives people an opportunity to show up in memory of their loved ones and do something to honor them.
“It’s just a way to kind of place them somewhere, instead of them just being misplaced,” she said. “Put them into some sort of action, something positive, something that feels productive.”
Tapp said her friend does not have to be defined by how he died.
“My friend that passed away was one of the strongest, most compassionate, deep-feeling human beings I’ve ever met,” she said.
Tapp also said people close to those who have died by suicide might experience a feeling of guilt.
“You can’t monitor somebody out of this, but what we can do is bring awareness to the fact that people do have these feelings and these thoughts,” Tapp said. “Then if it’s less stigmatized, then maybe they can reach out.”
Editor’s Note: This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, it is available via the resources below. You are not alone.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s phone number is 1-800-273-8255.
Arizona Suicide Prevention Coalition
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Edited by Natalia Rodriguez, Henry Smardo, Emilio Alvarado, Katrina Michalak and Pippa Fung.
Reach the reporter at dkovalen@asu.edu.
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Diana NychyporukCommunity and Culture Reporter
Diana reports on ASU’s diverse community and culture for The State Press. She is pursuing a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a minor in Political Science. In addition, she is a reporter for The Cut Network and a radio host at Blaze Radio.
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