Anicia Dixon
Assistant Editor/News
Finding the light when feeling surrounded by darkness can be a challenging and exhausting feeling for many students. The staff at the Latasha Norman Center (LNC) at Jackson State University prioritized the month of September, which is also Suicide Prevention Month, to help students and encourage mental health check-ins.
During “Thee Mental Health Awareness Week”, the LNC planned events to bring students an educational, fun, and relaxing week from Sept. 22 -26. The events included line dancing, yoga, and painting, with the theme of creative wellness. A suicide proclamation and yellow ribbon signing were also held. The week concluded with a mental health fair sponsored by the Interdisciplinary Alcohol/Drug Studies Center.
Since 1949, September has been designated as the month to raise awareness about suicide prevention and to promote the importance of reaching out and supporting one another in communities.
During the weeklong activities, students learned that asking if someone is okay can provide unimaginable relief to the person receiving the question. That start of open dialogue can remove a sense of isolation and may be matched with vulnerability and comfort, making a dark-filled room shine with an immense amount of light.
Speaking of light, yellow is the primary symbolic color (sometimes paired with other colors) that represents the month’s focus on mental health and suicide prevention.
Latasha Norman Center counselor, Serita Washington, shared the inspiration and hopeful outcomes from the “R U OKAY” event that specifically recognizes suicide prevention.
“This month is Suicide Awareness Month nationwide, so we just wanted to come together to spread awareness for suicide awareness and to encourage students to come by to see what resources we have to offer them. Suicide is a serious thing; it’s a serious topic that may be a bit uncomfortable to discuss and talk about, but we just want the students to have a safe space to come and receive information,” said Washington.
Taking a step together to confront what may be uncomfortable to many is a powerful thing. Learning to support others who have lost loved ones, as well as survivors, allies, and anyone who may need help, is a reminder that each of us can raise awareness and further educate ourselves and others on what we can do to help and be helped.
Washington continued to express her hope that the event would achieve both short-term and long-term goals.
“I would say I hope this event sparks awareness. Knowledge is power. Talking about it and just having an active dialogue about this topic (is important). We’re hoping that in the short term, we will receive and garner the participation from the students, but long term, that they will feel comfortable enough to have those conversations with each other and to us as well,” Washington said.
Dennis McCollum, a senior entrepreneurship major from Jackson, Miss., shared his thoughts on the importance of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
“It’s important to have a time dedicated to it because it is still often overlooked or looked at as not important when it can significantly impact that person’s life without realizing,” said McCollum.
The LNC promotes sharing experiences, identifying and addressing risks, and encouraging students to reach out and seek support from someone, vital steps in managing mental health challenges, guiding us to find all the bright places.
For more information about the Latasha Norman Center for counseling services, please visit the JSU Student Center, located on the 2nd Floor, Suite 2102, or call 601-979-0374.
To reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, call or text 988 from anywhere in the U.S. to connect with a trained crisis counselor 24/7 or visit 988lifeline.org/chat to communicate with a counselor online.
