Suicide is one of the leading mental concerns of our nation, said Tim Hakenwerth, graduate assistant with Substance Abuse Presentation and Education. Southeast and the greater southeast Missouri communities have made substantial efforts to improve awareness and prevention. We hope that through our heightened events during Suicide Prevention Week our students and community members will be empowered to share their stories, reach out to others who may be struggling, and advocate for better mental health in the community. Together we can help eliminate suicide – – on our campus, in our community, and worldwide!
Lynsea Casey, graduate assistant with the Campus Violence Prevention Program, added, Our mission during Suicide Prevention Week is to promote suicide awareness, and educate individuals in suicide prevention and mental health. We want individuals to walk away from our events and be able to use their awareness and education to help others, because what is the point of awareness and education if you dont use it?
Scheduled events during Suicide Prevention Week are as follows:
Monday, Sept. 19-Wednesday, Sept. 22: Counseling and Disability Services in collaboration with the Counselor Training Clinic will provide free, confidential depression screenings from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the University Center lobby. Dove-shaped suicide prevention pledges, semicolon tattoos and psychoeducational resources will be available at the screening events.
Tuesday, Sept. 20: The Southeast Regional Support Center will provide a free Youth Mental Health First Aid Training from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the University Center, Heritage Room. This training will prepare individuals to assess for suicidal risk, listen non-judgmentally, give resources and information, and encourage professional help and self-care strategies. Free lunch will be provided. Registration was required by Sept. 14.
Thursday, Sept. 22: All members of the Cape Girardeau community are invited to participate in a dove-shaped balloon release at Academic Hall at noon in remembrance and to raise suicide prevention awareness.
Friday, Sept. 23: The Redhawk Health Educators are hosting Puppies for Prevention on Academic Terraces from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to promote healthy stress reduction strategies for Suicide Prevention Week.
Sunday, Sept. 25: The Out of the Darkness Community Suicide Prevention Walk will take place at noon at Cape County Park North. Registration and check-in for the walk begin at 10 a.m. To register for the walk, visit www.outofthedarkness.org.
For more information about Suicide Prevention Week 2016, contact Counseling and Disability Services at (573) 986-6191 or by email at ucs@semo.edu.