About 100 students gathered on College Green Wednesday evening to raise awareness for suicide prevention.
Candles in the hands of about 100 students lit up Class Gateway just after sunset Wednesday evening during a vigil bringing attention to suicide prevention.
Hosted by the Alpha Chapter of Chi Sigma Iota, a graduate honor society, in conjunction with the Athens County Suicide Coalition and the Bobcats for Suicide Prevention Campaign, the evening aimed to break the silence surrounding suicide.
Nearly 40,000 people take their own lives each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sept. 10 has been named World Suicide Prevention Day.
President of the Alpha Chapter of Chi Sigma Iota Kendra Jackson sees the effects of suicide nearly every day. She works as a counselor at Hopewell Health Centers.
“I care so much about the clients I have,” Jackson said. “And many, even children, have had thoughts of ending their lives.”
The vigil began at 8:30 p.m. and featured Steve Noftz, manager of safety and security at Ohio Health O’Bleness Hospital. Noftz served 26 years on the Ohio University Police Department and lost one of his friends to suicide in 2009.
He said that as a police officer he was often told that it wasn’t his job to help those who are considering suicide.
“It always bothered me when people say, ‘cops don’t do that,’ because I’m just a guy named Steve, who happens to be a cop, and I’m always here to help,” he said.
After Noftz completed his speech, Delfin Bautista, director of the Ohio University LGBT Center, asked those in attendance to take paper stars and write their names on them.
Bautista asked everyone to place themselves in the shoes of an LGBT youth and read scenarios of coming out to their various social circles. Depending on the color of the star, some were met with acceptance while others were rejected.
For each group that shunned the individual, the corner of the star was folded or torn off. Bautista concluded that those who lost their points and had no support groups were more likely to stand on their own.
“If you have just one person who supports you, the risk of suicide goes down about 30 percent,” Bautista said.
LGBT youth are especially affected by depression and thoughts of suicide, Bautista said. LGBT youth are about four times more likely to attempt suicide, according to the CDC.
But for some, the topic is still considered taboo, said Christine Bhat, associate professor of counselor education.
“If a family member dies in a car crash, people will flood to your side,” she said. “But if a family member commits suicide, people are less likely to talk about it.”
The vigil concluded with a walk around College Green.
“The darkest hour is just before night,” Jackson told the crowd. “If you can hold out just a little bit longer, you’ll see that silver lining of hope the next day.”
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