College is a tough time for many. It’s a huge change that can be hard to navigate. According to the Green Bandana Project, suicide is the leading cause of death among college-aged students with depression being directly linked to suicidal behaviors. About 12% of students report having had suicidal ideations during their first four years in college. Because of the increasing amount of student suicides, the Green Bandana Project was born.
The Green Bandana Project is a program dedicated to preventing suicide through promoting help-seeking behavior as well as increasing awareness of mental health resources. This project was inspired by “Dan’s Bandana Project,” which was first developed on the University of Wisconsin-River Falls campus.
In 2014, a professor of the college came up with this concept after losing her son Daniel to suicide in 2012 while he was a senior in college. His signature headwear, a bandana, became the primary symbol of the project– signifying that students carrying a bandana are mental health advocates, trusted sources of support and able to provide mental health and suicide prevention resources for students.
In the fall of 2022, SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education) acquired The Bandana Project and incorporated it into its suicide prevention and mental health programs.
This project is driven by student volunteers and it is easy to get involved. After a short orientation and basic suicide prevention training, participating students display a lime-green bandana on their backpack, bag or person, signifying they have pledged to be an ally that can be approached for mental health and suicide prevention information and resources.
Kirkwood Community College participates in the Green Bandana Project and provides training sessions for students, staff and faculty. The next training will be April 10 from 11:15 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. in 2014 Iowa Hall. Counselors Chandran Lapel and Angie Ziesman Weiler will co-facilitate this session.
After being trained, participants carry a few resource cards with them and tie a green bandana on their backpacks to indicate they are safe to approach regarding mental health-related needs and where to find help. Participants will learn signs and symptoms of depression and/or suicide, how to respond effectively and where to refer including Kirkwood and community resources.
Suicide is preventable. The Green Bandana Project is free to join. More information about the program and its resources can be found on its official website at https://www.thebandanaproj.org/.
Categories: Feature
