Tag: Student Life

On September 11 I took part in a writing activity provided by students that were promoting National Suicide Prevention Week (September 10-September 16). They had set up a table on the second floor lobby and were handing out papers that read “I was made for ….” and students got to fill in the blank and post there responses up on a board. The activity was a food for thought and I’ll admit that what first attracted me to their setup was the food that was on display, but after being handed the paper I really got to thinking about a response. I ended up writing down that I was made for something amazing. The purpose of this activity was to send a message to those contemplating suicide, that there is always a reason to live and that suicide is never the answer. The “food for thought” event was the first of many events that will take place at Baruch during National Suicide Prevention Week. The last event of National Suicide Prevention Week will be on Thursday at five in the second floor lobby. There will be a candlelight vigil, where 121 candles will be lit honoring the 121 Americans that commit suicide everyday. An important resource that they provided was a pamphlet describing the role of Baruch’s Counseling Center and a list of services that it offers. Some of the services include Individual Psychotherapy, Group Therapy, and Crisis Counseling. I think that it was a great idea to hand out these pamphlets because it is important for every Baruch student to know that they are not alone and that there are many people on campus that can help them. In an environment as stressful as Baruch’s, it is crucial to discuss mental health and to provide students with easy access to the counseling.

 

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and upon reaching the second floor, I immediately noticed the banner promoting this. My friend, Lilia, and I were initially hesitant to approach the people who were a part of this group but, eventually, we found our way to them. (They were also offering free breakfast and so that was a great additional incentive.)

There was a big board besides them that neatly presented numerous statistics on suicide in America. One fact that stood out to me was that suicide is the third leading cause of death for people between the ages of 15 and 24. We were then thoroughly informed about the importance of this month and how much it could affect those who may be going through a similar situation. Stress from school, home, peers, or from the online world can all lead someone down this dangerous path. In order to further avert future suicides, these students were adamant about helping to prevent any such event happening in Baruch.

After finishing our croissants, Lilia and I were then asked to participate in a short writing activity. In a few words, we  had to write down what we believed our purpose in this world is. Many people often feel like they may not have a role in the world but by doing this activity, they wanted to encourage a feeling of importance and belonging within each and every person. However it was incredibly difficult to come up with an answer. Not because we were suicidal but because it felt egotistical to state how important we were to the world. Eventually we came up with something and our input was added to the large collection they already had. Though this experience was short, it still taught me a lot about how people perceive themselves and the importance of educating oneself about the dangers of suicide.