Wildfire smoke was the cherry on top of canceling in-person events due to the health risks that come with inhaling smoke. But the “We Got Your Back 5k for Suicide Awareness” still prevaled to find a way to continue.
For four years, Vandal Health has put on the “We Got Your Back 5K for Suicide Awareness.” This event is a part of Suicide Awareness Week, which is also centered around World Suicide Prevention Day on Sept. 10. The run is a part of Katie Benoit Campus Safety Month.
Due to COVID-19, Vandal Health offered a virtual option for people to do the 5K. This meant runners could sign up online and could do the 5K either by running on a treadmill, or by doing their own 5K route. The goal was to complete the 5K by Sept. 12, when the in-person 5K was supposed to be – then the smoke hit.
“We knew that smoke and air quality was becoming a factor,” Amanda Ferstead, Vandal Health Education mental health promotion program coordinator, said. “So, we’ve extended the date out so that if they do want to go outside and do that, they can.”
The suicide awareness 5K has now been extended to Sept. 26. Registration is open to all. There is no fee to register, however if participants want a t-shirt to show they ran the 5K, they can purchase it. T-shirts run $7 for students and $10 for non-students.
Participants don’t have to purchase a t-shirt though,; they can still register online for free and do the 5K. Participants can also submit photos of their 5K.
“If they want to take a picture along their route, maybe a really nice view or some folks will do their pets, or maybe something that is a reason why the wanted to the 5K in the first place,” Ferstead said. “We’ll put them all together at the end to bring everybody together that participated.”
So far at least 150 people have signed up for the 5K. Ferstead says that she hopes that the air quality will clear up next week, but participants can use the treadmills at the Student Recreation Center.
The Vandal Health Center also offers otherver programs for Suicide Awareness Week. On Sept. 10, they offered Question, Persuade and Refer (QPR) training which is open to faculty, staff and students. It trains participants to recognize the warning signs of suicide and teaches them how to have a conversation with said person and how to get someone connected to help. They will offer the class monthly, and the next one will be Oct. 6.
On Oct. 17, they have a Metal Health First Aid training that is open to all as well. Every Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. they host recovery Coffee Hour in the Panorama Room on the 4th floor of the Student Union Building (ISUB).
Ryan Hill can be reached at [email protected].