Oklahoma Christian University held a candlelight vigil in recognition of World Suicide Prevention Day on Thursday, the event brought in a much larger crowd than the previous year.
Earlier in the day to raise awareness about suicide prevention, colorful bracelets were given to students after chapel with “you matter” written on them.
“We’re looking forward to people being more aware of how they can get help and be a help,” Sheldon Adkins, Director of the University Student Counseling, said.
World Suicide Prevention Day has taken place on every Sept. 10 since 2003.
Tina Winn, professor of Psychology and Family Studies, spoke to the more than 500 students who gathered in the forum Thursday night about the importance of suicide awareness.
Winn presented the students with many statistics about suicide among young adults from across the world. According to Medical News Today, suicide is among the top causes of death in the United States, and according to Center for Disease Control and Prevention, for youth between the ages of 10 and 24, suicide is the third leading cause of death. It results in approximately 4,600 lives lost each year. Approximately 157,000 youth receive medical care for self-inflicted injuries at emergency departments across the U.S.
Winn said signs of suicidal thoughts include withdrawing from other people, negative talk, extreme changes in behavior, and sometimes drug use and self-harm.
Students were encouraged to help each other, establish and secure strong connections.
“People feel hope just by feeling connected with other people,” Adkins said. “That’s something all of us can do. You don’t have to be a professional to connect with people.”
Oklahoma Christian offers counseling for students who need help.
“If someone is suicidal they need to seek professional help, because their thinking is not clear,” Adkins said. “During counseling, a student will go through talk therapy. What we find is that over time their feelings change, the person is thinking more logically and behaving more logically.”
At the end of the vigil, students gathered together in prayer to reflect on the importance of the community around them.
For students who want to seek help, they can visit the counseling office, call, or email to set up an appointment. You can find more information here.
All photos by Abby Bellow and Emily Thornton
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