“Being aware of suicide is very important,” said Amelia Peterson, mechanical engineering major and member of Kirkwood Community College’s Active Minds organization. “Because not only do many college students deal with that themselves, but if it’s not them, it’s their friends; it’s their family. It’s something that’s really prevalent right now.”
On Sept. 17, the Kirkwood chapter of Active Minds, a national student-run nonprofit dedicated to raising suicide awareness, displayed 1,100 flags outside Iowa Hall, representing the approximate number of college students who die by suicide each year.
Counseling faculty and student members of the organization interacted directly with Kirkwood students in front of Iowa Hall, sparking conversations about mental health and raising suicide awareness.
Student members shared ways to spot signs of mental health crises in friends and classmates, stating that sudden irritability, withdrawal from social life and academics, changes in mood and negative self-talk are all stand-out signs that someone might be struggling.
However, it’s not only about recognizing the signs of depression and suicide. It’s also about being prepared to respond to those signs. Aaron Zygarlicke, liberal arts, explained how simple it can be to check in on a friend you might be worried about.
“We have wonderful technology these days where we can just send an instant message,” said Zygarlicke, further explaining that an effective way to check in on someone could just be by sending them a text to ask how they’re doing. Other times, you don’t have to be as direct. It can be as simple as asking your friend to hang out or study with you so they don’t have to be alone.
“It doesn’t have to be known that you’re worried about them, but you can still just make it known that you care and that you’re there for them,” Zygarlicke said.
Peterson and Zygarlicke agreed it is important to normalize talking about mental health because having those discussions can reduce the stigma of asking for help. For some, this could make a huge, maybe even lifesaving difference.
Active Minds offers The Green Bandana Project, a free mental health training program designed to educate students on how to spot signs of depression and suicide, how to respond to those signs and how to create a more supportive and stigma-free environment. The program is held Oct. 1 and Nov. 11, from 11:15 a.m. to noon in 2014 Iowa Hall.
“People are here to help you,” said Peterson. “People are here to support you, even if it seems like they don’t care. Most people are very willing to help, whether to listen or just to talk. Students aren’t alone in this; no one is alone in this.”
Students struggling with anxiety or depression, or those who simply need someone with whom to talk while navigating college life, can access free counseling services through Kirkwood Community College. Students can schedule an appointment by calling 319-398-5540 or visiting 3034 Iowa Hall.
Students or others experiencing a crisis can also reach the 24-hour Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
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