Walk for Hope

Contact Information

Janice Lewis, M.A., Ed.S., NCC -- Staff Counselor/Resident in Counseling -- Coordinator of Suicide Risk Reduction Outreach -- James Madison University Counseling Center -- Student Success Center, 3rd Floor -- MSC 0801 -- Harrisonburg, VA 22807 -- Phone: (540) 568-6552 -- Fax: (540) 568-8096

Description

The Counseling Center partners with local colleges/university (i.e., Blue Ridge Community College, Bridgewater College, and Eastern Mennonite University) to offer Walk for Hope. This event encourages students, staff, and community members to come out to raise awareness about depression and suicide. The day includes a 1-2 mile walk, a speaker who will be discussing mental health topics, creative arts activities, mental health resources, & food. The week before the walk there is additional psychoeducational materials offered at JMU through tabling to share information about the event and information about mental health support available, as well through a presentation offered on ways to reduce the risk of suicide within our community.

Web Presence

https://www.jmu.edu/counselingctr/

Involvement

Involves Faculty, Involves Staff, Involves Students, Involves Participants External to JMU

Scope

Hburg/Local/VA

Date

Walk for Hope takes place during the spring semester in March or April. It will be hosted at JMU on April 6th, 2019 during the 2018-2019 academic year.

Frequency

Recurring Event (Occurs on a regular basis but not continual)

Benefits for Faculty, Students, Community, and Institution

The event is free to attend, and open to the community. Walk for Hope benefits the institutions of JMU, EMU, BC, & BRCC through the involvement of students, faculty, & staff. It also benefits many Harrisonburg area community members who participate annually. For all those in attendance information is available to: increase awareness of available mental health resources, identify new ways to support a loved one with mental health concerns, encourage the importance of reaching out and offering help, demonstrating the power of hope, and it exemplifying the amount of support available in our community when we come together.

Community Partner Name

Blue Ridge Community College, Bridgewater College, and Eastern Mennonite University

Areas of Engagement

Community Engagement

Format

Program