Old Rochester ‘Walks a Mile in My Shoes’ for National Suicide Prevention Month
(from left to right) Junior Sage Elia, social worker Rosemary Williams, school psychologist Julie Andrade, social worker Kerri Dowdall, junior Abby Desorcy, junior Zadie Goyette and junior Ava Ross-Sinkler at Old Rochester's "Walk a Mile in My Shoes'. Source: Kerri Dowdall
Students and staff at Old Rochester walk with backpacks on at a suicide prevention walk.
(from left to right) Junior Sage Elia, social worker Rosemary Williams, school psychologist Julie Andrade, social worker Kerri Dowdall, junior Abby Desorcy, junior Zadie Goyette and junior Ava Ross-Sinkler at Old Rochester's "Walk a Mile in My Shoes'. Source: Kerri Dowdall
Students and staff at Old Rochester walk with backpacks on at a suicide prevention walk.
MATTAPOISETT — Shouldering heavy backpacks and personal belongings, approximately 65 Old Rochester Regional High School students and over 10 faculty members embarked on a suicide prevention walk on Tuesday, Sept. 23 and Sept. 30.
Student members of the ORR Cares club and staff raised awareness for Suicide Prevention Month throughout September — culminating in a mile-long walk around the school’s track.
“That club is specifically to foster positive and supportive environments for mental health here at the high school,” said Kerri Dowdall, a school social worker who helps students lead ORR Cares.
Junior Sage Elia came up with the theme of the inaugural walk: “Walk a Mile in My Shoes.”
“September is suicide prevention awareness month, and our Walk a Mile in My Shoes event is meant to help fight the stigma that often comes with discussing suicide and mental health,” she said. “We want to bring attention to the mental and emotional struggles that everyone faces.”
She adds, “Overall, we aim to reinforce that there is help. By sharing our burden with others, we lessen the weight and toll it takes on us all.”
Participants walked four laps around the track, equating one mile. For the first two laps, walkers carried backpacks or personal belongings to symbolize the weight of mental health struggles.
For the last two laps, participants took off their backpacks and personal belongings to symbolize the lifting of an emotional weight that one might experience when opening up to others about mental health struggles and seeking helpful resources.
“If you trust people, if we open up this dialogue, if we get rid of the stigma and we bring more awareness to this, then it can free you up and it can lift that weight,” said Dowdall.
Leading up to the walk, ORR Cares set up a table in the school foyer to offer mental health resources to students who may be struggling and handed out wearable ribbons to demonstrate support for the cause.
“Everybody loves that, and they end up keeping [on] throughout the whole school year and from there on out. They have it on their bags, jackets, on our lanyards,” Dowdall said of the ribbons.
Ultimately, the club raised awareness for students and faculty and provided necessary resources to help anyone navigating mental health issues.
ORR Cares now looks forward to continuing to host the event in coming years.
“We’re hoping it grows every year,” said Dowdall.
