Auburn University group promotes suicide prevention
Opelika-Auburn NewsSep 25, 2016
One of the groups on campus is Active Minds, a chapter of a national organization dedicated to starting and continuing the conversation about mental health on college campuses.
The organization provides education and information about topics having to do with mental health and wellness.
Dr.
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Johnson said more than 500 students, faculty and staff follow the group on social media, and a core group of 30 to 40 students is regularly involved with the group.
The organization does various awareness events throughout the year to promote suicide prevention.
Johnson said the chapter will host an Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk
Last year, the walk raised more than
The group also hosted an event last spring called "Send Silence Packing," which featured a display of 1,100 backpacks that represented every life lost due to the death of a college student by suicide in
Johnson offered advice to people who have a friend or loved one struggling with thoughts of suicide.
"First, do not worry about asking the question, 'Are you having thoughts of suicide?'" Johnson said. "That question does not increase the risk that a person will act on those thoughts."
Johnson said people should try to empathize to their friend or family member as best as they can.
"You may have not experienced suicidal thoughts, but everyone has experienced a disruption to their mental health," Johnson said. "Thus, use the feelings from that to try and connect with the person to whom you are speaking. Also, know that the large majority of people who have suicidal thoughts do not attempt suicide, but you may have to ask if the person you are talking to if they are thinking of acting on the thoughts they are having."
If the person needs immediate help, call 911 or take the person to the local emergency department.
More information about the chapter is available on its pages on Twitter and Facebook.