Students Host Suicide Prevention Memorial Walk

SHU community gathers in person and virtually to raise suicide awareness, honor lives of students

Sacred Heart University’s men’s rugby team and Alpha Delta Pi sorority hosted a Suicide Prevention Memorial Walk to raise awareness and to honor the lives of SHU students gone too soon. One hundred students gathered for the socially distant walk on campus and more than 300 watched the walk virtually. 

The event memorialized students Peter DeSalvo (a rugby player), Jelyn Lee (a member of Alpha Delta Pi) and Ryan Lahiff on a recent Sunday night. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention hosts midnight walks, which emphasize that no one is alone in the darkness, said senior Mario Cimino. “That was the goal with this event,” he added. 

Cimino said his peers also wanted to honor and celebrate the memories of the lives lost. “We wanted to raise awareness for mental health and show the community that there are resources on campus for people who need help. There are people here that care about their well-being,” he said.

To donate to the cause, please visit SHU’s American Foundation for Suicide Prevention donation page.

If you are concerned about a friend or peer on campus, visit the suicide prevention and intervention webpage or call the Counseling Center at 203-371-7955.