JCU Wellness hosts multiple trainings and programs for Suicide Prevention Month

Laken Kincaid, Managing Editor
Sep 22, 2022

*TRIGGER WARNING: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS CONTENT ABOUT SUICIDE*

JCU Wellness has taken initiative in strengthening mental health awareness. (Getty Images)

Mental health awareness has become a huge priority for many college campuses, especially since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the rising presence of anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses, a multitude of universities have risen to the task of addressing mental health within their communities. This includes the often difficult endeavor of discussing suicide.

“Suicide rates have been increasing over the past couple of years, specifically within the college-aged population,” Lindsey Carr, a graduate assistant with JCU Wellness, told The Carroll News. “I also think that, culturally and socially, there is a huge initiative towards mental health and suicide awareness and prevention is a huge part of mental health.”

Suicide is currently the second highest cause of death among collegiates across the nation. College Stats online states that 44% of college students report having symptoms of depression and 1,100 college students commit suicide every year. This has only been exacerbated by the pandemic and its accompanying stressors.

Many higher education institutions are beginning to take mental health and suicide more seriously than before. For JCU specifically, this looks like organizing a myriad of events for the entire month of September, which is Suicide Prevention Month.

The John Carroll Wellness Center has created multiple programs raising awareness for the suicide epidemic among college students, as well as promoting resources for those in need. One of those initiatives was a 1,100 flag display on the main quad symbolizing the amount of students lost each year. Other events include coffee with a counselor at Grasselli Library’s Cubby on Sept. 28 from 2-4 pm, as well as multiple trainings for suicide prevention including mental health first aid (offered on Oct. 8 from 10 am – 4 pm) and Question Persuade Refer training (offered both on Sept. 26 from 5-6 pm and Sept. 29 from 1-2 pm).

“We want to get resources out there,” Jamie Greenwolf, Coordinator of Student Wellness, told The Carroll News. “There’s the new 988 number. Also the Crisis Text hotline; we refreshed those posters in the bathrooms. So all of those things are going to come in together. We know that it’s tough to come to college, right? And so, it [can be] your first year here and you’re like ‘wow, this is really difficult.’ So hopefully, this just elevates those resources like counseling or wellness.”

Outside of the programs offered for Suicide Prevention Month, JCU Wellness offers a variety of opportunities and resources for students, including wellness coaching and restarting the Work in Progress poster campaign around campus. This initiative features members of the John Carroll community and how they are bettering themselves through wellness tactics. The Wellness Center also offers a variety of employment opportunities and ways to get involved.

For more information on Suicide Prevention Month or any of the programs offered by JCU Wellness, email [email protected].

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About the Contributor

Laken Kincaid, Editor-in-Chief

Laken Kincaid is the Editor-in-Chief for The Carroll News from Beckley, West Virginia. They are a senior at John Carroll University who is double majoring in political science and communications (digital media) and minoring in leadership development.

Laken has written for The Carroll News since the start of their freshman year and has previously served as a staff reporter, campus section editor and managing editor of the paper. They have received 18 Best of SNO awards, a Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence award for Region 4 and two honorable mentions from the College Media Association. They have also been recognized by universities like Georgetown for their investigative reports. Additionally, they also write political satire for The Hilltop Show and feature stories on global poverty for The Borgen Project.

In addition to their involvement with The Carroll News, Laken is involved with the Kappa Delta sorority, the speech and debate team, the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion, the Improv club and other organizations. They also serve as the news director for WJCU 88.7, John Carroll's own radio station, and as the president for John Carroll's Society of Professional Journalists chapter. Laken also started their own national nonprofit organization known as Art with the Elderly which they have won the President's Volunteer Service Award and the Humanity Rising Award for.

When not writing, Laken can be found doing graphic design for their internship with Union Home Mortgage or working as a resident assistant and peer learning facilitator on campus. Laken also enjoys skiing and watching true crime documentaries.

In the future, Laken hopes to become a political journalist for a national news organization or to be a campaign commercial editor for politicians.

To contact Laken, email them at [email protected].

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