UAlbany Events Highlight Sexual Assault Awareness and Suicide Prevention

Students marching around UAlbany's podium in support of suicide prevention

The UAlbany community came together on April 12 to raise awareness about suicide prevention.

ALBANY, N.Y. (April 29, 2025) — Throughout the month of April, the University at Albany hosted a series of significant events uniting students, faculty and staff in support of Sexual Assault Awareness Month and suicide prevention. Organized by the Office of Health Promotion (OHP), the events underscored UAlbany's position as a health-promoting university and its continued commitment to the health and well-being of students, faculty and staff.

With hundreds of attendees, the campus community came together to show their support for these important initiatives and to help raise awareness about the resources and services available at UAlbany. From peer support groups and survivor advocacy services to mental health counseling and local partnerships, the University fosters a community that empowers its students and embraces positive change. For more information about support services, visit UAlbany’s Office of Health Promotion.

Supporting Sexual Assault Survivors

The month began with the University’s second annual Take Back the Night rally on April 1, a moving evening of solidarity at the Uptown Campus Entry Plaza. Dozens of members from the campus community gathered for a candlelight vigil and rally in support of survivors of sexual assault, harassment and abuse. The event featured student speakers, survivor stories and community pledges to end sexual violence. Attendees were able to gather information about local resources or support services, while also participating in creative activities, such as tie-dyeing and bracelet making.

Students assembling care packages for survivors of sexual assault — More than 250 volunteers from UAlbany and Albany Med assembled dozens of comfort kits for survivors of sexual assault at Broadview Center on April 23. (Photo by Brian Busher)

The month-long series of programs concluded with UAlbany’s ninth annual “We Care” event, which was held in partnership with Albany Medical Center on April 23 at Broadview Center. More than 250 volunteers came together to prepare 500 kits for patients of the Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner program within the Division of Forensic Medicine at Albany Medical Center. These kits will be distributed to patients who come through Albany Medical Center for forensic exams over the next year. Each kit included comfort items, toiletries, clothing and a note of support to reinforce the message that survivors are not alone.

Suicide Prevention Walk

UAlbany's 15th Annual Out of the Darkness Walk took place on April 12, with more than 650 participants joining the campus walk to raise awareness about suicide prevention and mental health. Co-hosted by the Office of Health Promotion and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), the event raised nearly $18,000 to support education, advocacy and crisis response efforts. Fundraising for the initiative will continue through June 30, which can be done at afsp.org/ualbany.

Following a performance by Pitch Please, UAlbany’s student a capella group, University Provost Carol Kim and Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Michael Christakis spoke with supporters about the importance of suicide prevention and community support. They were joined by guest speakers Congressman Paul Tonko, Senator Pat Fahy, Assemblymember Gabriella Romero and AFSP Capital Region Board Chair Dan Egan. More than 30 community organizations tabled at the event, including UAlbany's Middle Earth Peer Assistance Program, Counseling and Psychological Services, Recreation and Wellness and the UAlbany Chapter of National Alliance on Mental Illness.