Suicide Prevention Week raises awareness

This week UCONN is hosting a variety of events across campus in order to raise awareness on student suicide as a part of the second annual Suicide Prevention Week.

Student Health Services held tables at various dining halls across campus this week as a part of an interdepartmental effort to confront the issue. Rachel Pryzby, a graduate student, was hosting a table in front of South Dining Hall on Wednesday.

"We are tabling to raise awareness and help students realize the issue of suicide on college campuses," Pryzby said.

The table boasted a variety of flyers that offered methods and programs to help prevent suicide and depression. One flyer, distributed by Counseling and Mental Health Services, illustrated the suicide prevention program "QPR" or "Question-Persuade-Refer." QPR is a program that is now offered from certified instructors at UCONN.

"Sometimes students don't know how to handle such a delicate situation." Pryzby later stated.

Due to recent budget cuts, many departments at the university have been forced to cut back on services and programs that were formerly offered. Counseling and Mental Health Services will not be making such reductions.

"We have got to deal with [the budget cuts] just like anyone else," said Barry Schreier, director of Counseling and Mental Health Services.

Schreier also expressed glee in Suicide Prevention Week becoming an annual event at the University of Connecticut. The department continues to offer on call therapy during all hours of the day. The large variety of events being held this week provides substance to the fact that students have a numerous amount of resources to turn to during a dire situation.

According to the Mental Health Services Web site, suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students. Many students do not realize the profound impact that suicide has on college campuses across the nation.

Suicide Prevention Week at the University of Connecticut hopes to dramatically change these sorts of statistics. Suicide is widely considered as a preventable cause of death. Counseling and Mental Health Services urge students to attend 90 minute QPR training seminars in order to aid in the prevention of suicides on campus. Sign up for the seminars can be found