Suicide Prevention Day Spotlights a Campus Issue
September 10, 2009 • By Amanda Herman,
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On Sept. 10, the James Madison University Counseling & Student Development Center (CSDC), located at the Varner House, will observe World Suicide Prevention Day to dispel myths regarding suicidal behaviors and stigmas like the one mentioned above.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), suicide is one of the top-three causes of death globally in people under 25. The Campus Suicide Prevention Center of Virginia, located at JMU, reports on its Web site that according to the American College Health Association, there are approximately 1,100 college suicides annually.
Katie Baird, a graduate assistant at the CSDC, is organizing events and activities to spread awareness.
Programs will include an open forum at Festival and collaboration with Active Minds to stop the stigma and get people talking about suicide in order to prevent it.
“It is important for people to know how to intervene people who are at risk for suicide and get them the proper resources,” Baird said.
World Suicide Prevention Day was founded in 2003 as a response to the many deaths resulting from suicides in young people.
This year’s theme is “Suicide Prevention in Different Cultures.” Since suicide is a global problem, WHO estimates on its Web site that in 10 years suicide will become about 2 percent of the “global burden of disease.”
Suicide does not just affect the one million people a year globally who commit it; it takes a psychological and emotional toll on family members and friends left behind and the millions more who have attempted suicide.
“I think it is a good idea,” freshman Joe Townsend said. “I had a friend or two in high school who dealt with this. I think it should definitely be talked about.”
According to the CSDC Web site, people don’t like talking about suicide because they’re afraid the person will want to do it more after discussing it. Talking about suicide, however, can show the person that someone cares about them and can provide some emotional release.
As a resident adviser, senior Kelsey Nestel knows she must be prepared to help her residents by getting them to the proper resources if needed.
“I have not had any experience, but I think the best thing is to be there; be ready to help,” Nestel said.
Some courses in the justice studies department contain units about suicide and its prevention.
“I think [World Suicide Prevention Day] should be more advertised,” junior Erin Elliott said. “I am a justice studies major so we have covered some of that stuff in class, but I did not know [it] was going on”.
In addition to today’s events, suicide prevention seminars will be available to groups and classes interested in educating themselves on suicide prevention over the course of the school year.
CSDC will give presentations on campus and talk to people about suicide, depression and what the risk factors are, Baird said.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Any class or organization interested in hosting a guest speaker on suicide prevention should e-mail prevent.suicide.jmu@gmail.com or call 540-447-0272.
The Campus Suicide Prevention Center of Virginia will be hosting a conference on Oct. 16 for students and faculty in leadership roles around campus. Their office is located on University Blvd.
The CSDC is available for help at Varner House from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m.: (540-568-6552). Public Safety (540-568-6911) will assess the situation after hours and, if necessary, contact the counseling center staff member on call. For dire situations, go to the Emergency Room at Rockingham Memorial Hospital, 235 Cantrell Ave (540-433-4393) or call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK.
Contact Amanda Herman at hermanac@jmu.edu
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April 29, 2010 Issue in Print
Thank you for this informative article.
The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) is inviting those who cannot participate in a World Suicide Prevention Day to light a candle, near a window, at 8 PM on September 10th, to honor a lost loved one, for suicide prevention worldwide, for those bereaved by suicide, and for the survivors of suicide attempts.
http://www.iasp.info/wspd/
Kind regards,
IASP