TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — The month of September is nationally recognized as suicide awareness month and while not everyone struggles with suicidal thoughts, they are an extremely common issue, especially among college students.
“The American College Health Association has indicated that approximately 33% of college students struggle with suicidal ideation at some point their academic career” said mental health counselor Benjamin Arnold.
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month is dedicated to creating an open conversation for people struggling with those thoughts to ask for help without any unnecessary shame or fear.
“Suicide and mental health is such a taboo topic; people don’t really want to talk about the realness of it” said Trojan Outreach peer educator, Sam Lawson. “I think if we just get away from that stigma of all of the awkwardness of it and actually talk about it, then it would be so much easier to deal with.”
Troy University’s Student Counseling Center allows students to receive help from a mental health professional, without the price and possible fear of a therapist from an outside source, but with all the same experience and benefits.
“We are an objective third party, so we’re not directly involved in the situation” Arnold said. “We can often provide perspective that family members and friends and roommates may not be able to do as easily.”
Although professional help is always encouraged, Arnold said having people in your personal life that you trust to open up to can be equally important.
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“We as counselors, we can’t follow our clients around 24/7 so I encourage all of my clients to reach out to family, friends, significant others, roommates, professors, any kind of support system that they already have built into their lives.”
For anyone who has a friend, family member, or loved one in need of help, Arnold and Lawson said there are several ways you can help.
“Be aware of the signs and don’t jump at them don’t try to push it down their throats but be direct with them and don’t beat around the bush,” Lawson explained. “Being a listener and being there for people and opening that door but then being able to point the person who is struggling to the proper resources, like professionals.”
“Don’t feel like you have to give advice, just sometimes being there and just listening and accepting and supporting that person unconditionally can be the biggest catalyst toward healing” Arnold said.
To contact Trojan Outreach you can go to their instagram @trojan_outreach or email them at trojanoutreach@troy.edu.
