A piece of graffiti with suicidal undertones in Glidden Hall caused two Ohio University students to stop last November and leave their own message.
“I was thinking, ‘What is easy to get and what will cover it without damaging anything?’” said Bethany Logan, a junior studying dance.
Logan and her friend Anna Eltringham, a junior studying music therapy, decided to leave Post-It notes near the graffiti along with some Sharpie markers. Later in the day, the graffiti was completely covered by notes from students and faculty members with inspiring thoughts.
Almost a month later, a student jumped off the Oxbow Bridge on Richland Avenue in a suicide attempt — within hours, sticky notes appeared at the site with supportive messages.
“We were surprised,” Eltringham said. “This was going to be a big movement.”
OU’s Post-It! organization was then created. During the Involvement Fair, students were able to post notes on the blank board provided by the group.
After a couple hours, more than 140 notes were written — 112 were supportive, 25 in memory of a loved one who committed suicide. Six notes were seeking help.
“We even had one note with a phone number,” Logan said. “We thought this student was kidding, but he was serious. He wanted people to call him if they needed a friend.”
Logan said that the group received almost 70 emails from students who were interested in taking part.
OU’s Post-It! Treasurer Jaimee Plantinga, a sophomore studying education, was friends with an OU student who committed suicide. She and several others planned a candlelight vigil in his memory.
“We want to keep the memories of loved ones alive, help those who are struggling with mental health (problems) and help those who are grieving,” Plantinga said.
The members of the group want to promote mental health and suicide awareness. They also hope to designate specific sections on campus where students can leave Post-It notes and fundraise to bring speakers to OU from organizations such as To Write Love on Her Arms.
The OU Division of Student Affairs is also working to raise mental health awareness and suicide prevention by creating the Suicide Coalition, that seeks to train its campus in case of a crisis situation. OU’s Dean of Students Jenny Hall-Jones will lead the organization.
“Groups that form to support each other represent the truest sense of our community as a Bobcat family. I am proud of these students for their effort and outreach,” Hall-Jones said.
hy135010@ohiou.edu
@HannahMYang
