Suicide prevention vigil draws few

Posted to On Campus by Eva Dou at 12:31 p.m., Sept. 11, 2008

As part of Suicide Awareness Week, members of mental health awareness group Active Minds held a candlelight vigil Tuesday evening at Speaker’s Circle to commemorate those who have died by suicide.

Despite their efforts to engage the wider student body, all seven attendees were members of the group.

“We all know each others’ stories, but let us take a moment to reflect on what this vigil means to us,” Active Minds President Amy Williams said before passing around a lighter for the other participants to light their candles.

Suicide is the second highest cause of death among college students, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Active Minds members will continue passing out suicide prevention information today in the Brady Commons walkway from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On Friday at noon, a free public suicide prevention training session will be held in Stotler Lounge. “Question, Persuade, Refer” will teach participants to recognize and respond to a mental health emergency.