Students can become more aware of mental health issues on campus this week.
Today begins Suicide Awareness Week, three days of events hosted by AWARE, the UF Counseling and Wellness Center’s ambassador program, to call attention to mental health and reduce its stigma.
Collin Vernay, AWARE coordinator and UF psychology and sociology senior, said this is his first Suicide Awareness Week since he began his three-year involvement with the Counseling and Wellness Center. The goal for the week is to discuss mental health and share available resources, Vernay, 21, said.
Today and Tuesday, AWARE will host Bridging the Gap on the Plaza of the Americas, using images of bridges to create awareness about mental health, physically connecting thoughts of suicide and seeking help.
“It’s important that people who are suicidal or through crisis, that we empathize with them, we don’t judge them; we don’t try to minimize their issues because what they’re feeling is true,” said Aleksandra Gasparova, AWARE secretorian and UF neuroscience senior.
The week continues with Keep Hope Alive, a suicide awareness panel, at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday in Pugh Hall Ocora. The panel will include the former director of the Alachua County Crisis Center and the mother of a suicide victim.
Gasparova, 21, said the vigil will provide a space for friends and family of suicide victims, those struggling with thoughts of suicide and others who hope to understand the issue.
It will be an opportunity to learn, educate and possibly save a life.
[A version of this story ran on page 4 on 2/9/2015 under the headline “Suicide Awareness Week starts today"]
Suicide Awareness Week will run today through Wednesday to try to eliminate the negative stigma associated with mental health issues.
Bridging the Gap: From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today and Tuesday come to the Plaza of the Americas for an engaging suicide-prevention activity.
Keep Hope Alive: Watch a panel of mental health professionals and survivors discuss the importance of the issue at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday in Pugh Hall Ocora.
For more information or help with a mental health issue, contact the UF Counseling and Wellness Center at 352-392-1575.
