The TCU psychology honor society, Psi Chi, will sponsor its seventh annual Psychology Week this week to raise awareness about suicide prevention and the honor society itself. 

Psi Chi chose to support suicide prevention because of recent campus and nationwide events, said Alice Schruba, a senior psychology major and Psi Chi philanthropy chair. Suicide was the second-leading cause of death among college students, according to suicide.org. 

“Unfortunately, suicide is a very common occurrence, and it’s something that we can avoid,” Schruba said. “We actually have tons of resources here on campus to help each other, but a lot of people don’t know about them.”

Psi Chi’s on-campus events this week will include free candy, games and a dunk tank. It will also sell lemonade and snow cones, and proceeds from the events will benefit The Trevor Project, Schruba said.

The Trevor Project provides suicide and crisis prevention to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, according to the program’s website. 

Psi Chi collaborated with the TCU Counseling Center for the event, Schruba said. The club would pass out flyers promoting the counseling center and the services it offers.  

Eric Wood, assistant director of counseling, testing and mental health at the center, will speak Thursday about looking for signs of suicide in yourself and others, Schruba said.

Students could find help on-campus if suicide was a relevant issue in their lives, she said.

Students should be aware of resources available to them on campus, such as the counseling center that is available by phone and walk-in appointments, Wood said

It was also important to be connected on campus, he said. College campuses could provide protective measures against suicide for students.

“Anyone can be in a good environment,” he said. “But if they aren’t plugged in or connected, that can be a risk factor in and of itself.”

Senior psychology major and Psi Chi co-president Eric Russell said the club hoped to reach everyone on campus during Psychology Week. Members of the club wanted students to be aware of what the organization could do for the campus, Russell said.  

The society is composed of psychology majors and minors with at least a 3.4 GPA in psychology and a 3.2 overall, Schruba said. The club could help to prepare students for classes, internships and graduate school. 

Tuesday
Games and free popcorn in front of Winton Scott

Wednesday
Snow cones and lemonade will be for sale, dunk tank available

Thursday
Dr. Eric Wood lecture Winton Scott, Room 120
Dr. Wood will speak about looking for signs of suicide in yourself and others.
All proceeds benefit Trevor Project. 
Contact Alice Schruba ([email protected]) for more information.