Out of the Darkness Campus Walk
Thursday, April 16, 2026, 6-8pm
Help prevent suicide at Ohio State by captaining or joining a team for the annual spring Ohio State Suicide Prevention Program Out of the Darkness Campus Walk (OOTDCW) on the Columbus, Lima, Marion, Wooster and Mansfield campuses!
This collaborative event with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is a journey of remembrance, hope and support and an opportunity to unite our Buckeye community – a time to acknowledge the ways in which suicide and mental illness have affected our lives and our loved ones. All undergraduate students, graduate and professional students, staff, faculty and alumni are invited to participate.
Event Schedule (for all campuses)
- 4:00pm – REACH Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training (Columbus campus; training is full)
- 6:00pm – Event doors open; participant arrival; team check-in; activities and partner/resource tables
- 6:30pm – Opening remarks; walk; return for snacks, closing remarks, and continued activities
- 8:00pm – Event concludes
Columbus
- Location: 337 Annie and John Glenn Ave, Columbus, OH 43210. RPAC (Tom W. Davis Gym) and The Oval (approximately a 1-mile walk).
- Free parking validation stickers will be provided by CampusParc for the Neil Ave. and Tuttle garages.
- Coordinator: Laura Lewis. Email: lewis.1422@osu.edu
- Join Team Buckeye or create your own—everyone must be on a team.
- Become a certified Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper before the event! Pre-registration is now closed.
Service Animal Policy
- Only service animals allowed in Rec Sports facilities.
- Must assist a person with a disability and wear a vest at all times.
- Emotional support animals are not permitted.
- Handlers must clean up after their animals.
- Questions: recsports@osu.edu
Lima
- Location: Galvin Hall, Cloyd Commons (Lower Level). The walk route will be around the Quad (multiple laps).
- Coordinator: Samantha Haudenschield. Email: haudenschield.11@osu.edu
- Sign up to volunteer.
- Join TEAM LIMA or create your own—everyone must be on a team.
Marion
- Location: Maynard Hall, 1st Floor
- Coordinator: Leslie Beary. Email: beary.4@osu.edu
- Join Team Marion or create your own—everyone must be on a team.
Mansfield
- Location: Campus Rec Center
- Coordinator: David Miller. Email: miller.12261@osu.edu
Wooster/ATI
- Location: The Gathering Place, Halterman Hall
- Coordinator: Schaad Schaad. Email: schaad.15@osu.edu
- Join Team Wooster or create your own—everyone must be on a team.
This year, with help again from WOSU Public Media, we’ll be united across all locations while walking on our individual campuses!
Watch the video story (below) published by The Lantern on our 2024 campus walk!