TCU is providing an interactive approach to educating students about the facts and misconceptions associated with mental illness and suicide.
Since 2010, six TCU students have died because of suicide. Prevention and education are the ideas behind the RU OK campaign created in 2012 on campus, according to the groups website. The site also provides information about suicide and mental health. However, now students have other outlets available to get actively involved in addition to RU OK.
To Write Love on Her Arms and Active Minds are national groups focusing on mental illness and suicide stigmas around college campuses according to their websites. Active Minds is in its second full year at TCU, said Co-President and junior neuroscience major Mia Eriksson.
“Our main goal is to reduce stigma against mental health and blow away the misconceptions and replace them with actual truths.” Eriksson said.
To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) was established in 2011 as an organization on campus focusing on issues such as eating disorders, depression, and suicide according to their website. This year they have a campaign titled “no one else can play your part.”
Member and sophomore social work major Alec Mothershead said the campaign wants to give the message that no one can fulfill your personal role in life and that your story matters.
According to the anonymous blog called Frog Speak, students can also share their personal stories and experiences. It is student-run and was created last semester to allow anyone to talk about topics such as rape, anxiety, grief and suicide.
“If you want to get involved with Frog Speak without necessarily having to write a personal story, you can help with web design or marketing,” said Emily Marquez, a freshman strategic communication major who plans to be involved with Frog Speak this semester.
Mothershead said all students are welcome to attend TWLOHA meetings. Locations will be announced.
Eriksson also said on Monday, Sept. 29, Active Minds will be hosting an event called send silence packing; more events will happen throughout the semester.
For additional assistance with suicide prevention, call the National Suicide Hotline number at 1-800-273-8255.
