By Scarlett Trager
September is National Suicide Prevention Month (NSPM) in the United States. An important month for a serious topic: suicide and mental health. Many people struggle with their mental health, which is why our campus brings recognition to NSPM. Different faculty and student organizations acknowledge this matter.
Michelle Draxten, the Health Promotion Coordinator at CHH says, “it’s important to highlight this month, college is stressful.”
“We’re basically just a community of people who get together mainly to just destress throughout the month, because we know school is very stressful.” B Percy, vice president of the student organization, Sonder exclaims. Sonder is a student organization with goals of destigmatizing mental health. They are a group of students who create a safe place to talk about mental health issues and other problems.
There are many resources available across the entire U.S. for any individuals who want help. One of these well-known resources for individuals struggling with mental health is the crisis hotlines. The National Suicide Prevention hotline is 988. Someone can call this line if they or someone they know are struggling. There are 24/7 professionals who are willing to communicate and guide individuals through whatever they are experiencing. This line is available through call, text, or chat (988Lifeline.org).
There are also resources for individuals who would rather converse with someone face to face. Concordia College has resources for individuals struggling with mental health. One of the top resources being the Center for Holistic Health. The Center for Holistic Health is located on Concordia’s campus in Old Main. In Old Main they have mental health counselors that are more than willing to talk to students TimelyCare is an app used by Concordia College and their students. It is an app students can download on their phones or other devices. The goal of TimelyCare is to create a healthier campus through a connection system of care. TimelyCare works toward this goal by providing a virtual clinic for students if they require mental health support or medical care.
“… be supportive all year round, while maybe we’re putting a little bit more of a highlight on the specific month” Draxten says. The Center for Holistic Health has their resources available to students all throughout the school year, however they make sure to do extra promotions of recognition in September.
Concordia College offers quite a few different resources for their students. Students are encouraged to use all the resources given. Draxten exclaims “And again, being aware of resources that are on campus.” Pointing out the other aspect of NSPM, which is informing others of the resources available. It’s helpful for individuals to recall what resources are all available to them on campus when they are reminded periodically.
Some efforts have been made by both faculty and students to shed light on NSPM. The Center for Holistic Health’s recognition of NSPM involves a social media campaign throughout the month of September. Sonder also brings attention to NSPM by speaking up on Sonder’s social media account. Both students and faculty of Concordia College understand the importance and significance of this topic.
Efforts have clearly been made to promote awareness of NSPM on campus. However, most acknowledgment is done on social media. “So, I was thinking, like, posters too. Hotlines should be up,” Percy exclaiming more recognition can be done on campus. There are ways to continuously promote suicide prevention and awareness even when September has come and gone.
