A group devoted to raising awareness about depression, self-injury, suicide and addiction is reminding the world this weekend that “love” isn’t just another four-letter word.
That’s why this Saturday, supporters of To Write Love on Her Arms will heed the message of the organization’s name and literally write the word “love” on their arms.
In honor of To Write Love on Her Arms Day, members of the group’s UF chapter will start the celebration a day early on the Plaza of the Americas from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today.
Members will raise awareness about their mission and provide markers to passers-by who want to write “love” on their arms.
“Basically, if people ask you what it’s about, you share the mission of the organization, and you can share your story with them if you feel like you want to,” said president Erin Villani, a UF psychology and sociology junior.
To Write Love on Her Arms was started in 2006 by a Cocoa, Fla., resident Jamie Tworkowski.
Tworkowski got the idea for the organization after a depressed friend — who was prone to cutting her arms and struggling with cocaine addiction — was rejected from a treatment center where she tried to get help.
Tworkowski blogged about the incident and later raised money by selling T-shirts to help his friend get treatment.
Since then, that single blog post has exploded into a global movement to raise awareness, with money going toward treatment in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.
On its website, which focuses heavily on being uplifting, tells viewers: “You were created to love and be loved. You were meant to live life in relationship with other people, to know and be known.
“You need to know that your story is important and that you’re part of a bigger story. You need to know that your life matters.”
The anti-suicide movement has even hit campuses across the nation — since last fall, more than 30 university chapters across the country have emerged to get involved.
The UF chapter, which was one of the first 15 launched across the country, has about 40 consistent members and more than 100 supporters on Facebook, Villani said.
Although the organization does not have a financial goal, it hopes to raise money over the year to partner with a local treatment facility and provide funding to help those who don’t have the money for treatment.
Later this semester, the organization plans to hold a workshop with the UF Multicultural Affairs department.
The workshop will address the recent suicides in the gay community and promote tolerance among the LGBTQ community as a whole.
But ultimately, To Write Love on Her Arms is a movement to get those suffering or coping with their struggles in silence to talk about problems stigmatized by society, said Patrick Runfeldt, a UF English freshman and first-year member of the group.
Runfeldt, 18, was clinically diagnosed with depression in seventh grade and said he joined the organization because going through depression is tough — even more so when there’s no one there to talk to about it.
“A lot of people won’t approach these subjects,” Runfeldt said. “You can be in a group of 50 people and feel alone — and that’s a big problem … [To Write Love on Her Arms] is about starting a conversation.”
