Every September, people around the world honor Suicide Awareness Month through fundraisers, spreading awareness, having conversations and remembering those who have passed. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 12% of young adults aged 18–25 in the U.S. reported having serious thoughts about suicide in the past year. Suicide is also the third leading cause of death among people ages 15–24. This means many students could be facing this firsthand.
Active Minds works to raise awareness surrounding mental health, reaching students to share how they can get support and to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. Junior Makenna Armstrong, president of Active Minds, advocated for ways students can check on friends who might be struggling with suicidal thoughts.
“A good way for students to check in on their friends is just asking,” Armstrong said. “Maybe they don’t know they’re struggling that much, and having someone ask ‘Are you thinking of hurting yourself?’ can help them get help. Of course, always offer to walk with them to the counseling center.”
Active Minds will be hosting Chalk the Walk on Sept. 14, Bracelets for Hope on Sept. 17 and Colors for Hope on Sept. 18 in hopes of raising awareness for these struggles.
“Colors for Hope lets students know that it’s okay to struggle,” Armstrong said. “This year, we have a comedian who focuses on destigmatizing mental health. When there is a large group of people able to see that it is okay to struggle, we can make a difference for students.”
Students are encouraged to attend these events and openly talk about mental health in their relationships on campus. “Mental health is more than depression and anxiety…People struggle in their own ways,” Armstrong said, “and it is our job to destigmatize mental health as a weakness.”
