Friday, March 6, 2026
The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
FeaturedLifestyles

Lighting up the darkness

Guest Author

The Chadron community came together Saturday to commence the second annual Out of the Darkness walk to raise awareness about suicide, depression, and to introduce the resources available at the community level for those who are seeking help. The walk was designed to dissolve the negative stigmas surrounding depression and mental illnesses, and to encourage people suffering from these conditions to seek help.

Cody Cooper, 21, senior of Gothenburg, leads a group of CSC students and Chadron community members, down C-Hill Saturday after releasing balloons during the Out of the Darkness suicide prevention —Photo by Stephanie Steele
Cody Cooper, 21, senior of Gothenburg, leads a group of CSC students and Chadron community members, down C-Hill Saturday after releasing balloons during the Out of the Darkness suicide prevention —Photo by Stephanie Steele

Laura Pugh-Pace, who is a trainer at Rush Creek Dog Training, was at the walk with her 16-month-old German Shepherd to educate people about the benefits of owning such animals and the help they are able to offer. Pugh-Pace said that the dogs have a “calming effect” on those with mental disorders and have the ability to bring out new behaviors in both children and adults.
Every year, approximately 1.1 million adults in the United States attempt suicide. The United States is one of the most prosperous nations in the world, and yet the country faces an epidemic, but it is so rarely discussed or talked about that it slips under the radar.
“There is such a stigma around suicide and depression,” volunteer Wacey Gallegos, 22, senior of Ainsworth, said. “Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in America and is so overlooked.”
The stigma is the notion that suicide is not the result of a serious mental affliction, and is something to be ignored. Depression affects nearly 350 million people on a global scale and is surrounded by a negative connotation. People are often discouraged from reaching out because they fear the judgment of their family and peers. This was part of the focus of the walk, encouraging attendees to feel comfortable discussing sobering topics and to reach out to those afraid to come forward was part of the focus of the walk.
One section of the walk had attendees climb C-Hill and write the names of a loved one lost to, suffering from, or connected to suicide or depression on a balloon; participants then released the balloons to indicate coming to terms with the personal loss.
Some of the attendees shared their personal stories during the climb, including Molly Thornton, 24, senior of Riverton, Wyoming. She expressed that she had lost loved ones to suicide because there was a lack of support and resources in the community to help them, and that she felt the walk had the capability to spread awareness and encourage discussion about it.
Katie Tobin, 21, senior of Mount Kisco, New York, confided that she had been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in the last year, and that she had never reached out until then; she wanted to express to others under similar circumstances that “it’s ok to talk about it” and that the only way to do so was by sharing her own experiences.
One of the main themes was “no matter what, you are not alone.” If you, or someone you know, experience suicidal thoughts or depression, look for help at the resources available on campus.