BY Amanda de Lauzon
Features Editor
“If you believe a friend needs help, they probably do,” said Nancy DeKraker, MA, LPC, staff counselor at Sacred Heart University. “We at Sacred Heart encourage students to look out for their friends and peers. It is a campus-wide responsibility to promote and protect the mental health of the student body.”
The Counseling Center at Sacred Heart as well as the Student Wellness Education and Empowerment Team, also known as S.W.E.E.T. peer educators, is showing their support for suicide prevention month by highlighting their services and their support for anyone struggling.
“Research shows that depression affects one out of every six college students and most don’t seek help,” said DeKraker. “This is a big concern for college campuses nationwide and why it is so important for students to feel comfortable helping others students get the help they need.”
The Counseling Center opens its doors to any student struggling, as well as those looking to help a friend or peer. Located on the second floor of the Wellness Center, the Counseling Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be reached at 203-371-7955.
“Research shows that 50% to 75% of those who attempt suicide give some warning signs, either verbal or behavioral,” said DeKraker.
The Counseling Center is working to educate students on being aware of warning signs in order to recognize these signs from their friends, peers, or family.
Some warning signs of suicide include unrelenting low mood, feeling hopeless, anxiety, withdrawing from friends or family, loss of interest, dropping out of usual activities, sleeping too much or too little, increased risky behavior, giving away favorite possessions and talking or writing about death, dying or suicide.
Some believe that the conversation of mental health is something not talked about enough.
“I think that mental health should 100% be brought up within schools and to students, but more than just defining what the disorders are. Mental health is more than just the definition of the disorder, and many people are usually going through things that could potentially be defined in multiple disorders,” said senior Michelle Munos. “I think we should all be trained in what to do or say in a situation where someone seems uneasy.”
Seeking out warning signs may be difficult, but it could ultimately save someone’s life. It may be difficult to approach someone about their mental health concerns, but the Counseling Center offers services and support to handle these situations in the best way possible.
“I feel like mental illness is not treated the same way as a physical illness, even though the effects are often even more harmful. Not many people realize this, but everyone has mental health, which is why it is important to have a conversation about it,” said Sara Chow, president of the S.W.E.E.T Peer Educators.
“Unfortunately, my life has been personally touched with mental disorders and suicide, and I wish that I would have been more aware to the signs,” said Munos. “I was younger at the time, but I just saw the way it affected the direct family, my family and my neighborhood and would really love to raise awareness and change the stigma of mental health issues and suicide.”
The Suicide Prevention Hotline is available 24-hours a day to assist anyone who needs to speak to someone anonymously for advice and guidance. The number is: 1-800-273-TALK.
