Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people of college age in Texas, and TCU officials are hoping to keep students safe by marking National Suicide Prevention Week with a series of events meant to educate and raise awareness.

“We hope that students are able to engage in many different ways and really remember and understand that suicide does not just happen in one pocket of a community, it touches all of us in all different ways,” said Brad Stewart, associate director of TCU’s Wellness Center.

The Wellness Center and Campus Recreation have partnered to sponsor this week’s activities.

Monday at Union Grounds – 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

The Counseling and Mental Health Center will be hosting a “Cookies with Counselors” event where counselors will hand out cookies, hotline phone numbers, stress balls and fliers. Additionally, they will offer depression screenings.

Tuesday at Brown-Lupton University Union Auditorium – 7:30 p.m.

Josh Rivedal will speak about mental health awareness and suicide prevention.

Wednesday at Frog Fountain – 7 p.m.

Student Government Association Director of Mental Health and Awareness Sarah Goldberg and veteran Phil Ditto will speak about how suicide impacted their lives during a suicide prevention vigil.

SGA is planning another educational campaign in the spring to keep students engaged with suicide prevention. The counseling center also offers a 24/7 counseling hotline for students in need at (817) 257-SAFE.

March 2017 was the last reported TCU student suicide, according to Eric Wood, the associate director of Counseling and Mental Health.

A display of combat boots on campus will symbolize the high rates of suicide in the veteran community, Stewart said.