According to the International Association for Suicide Prevention, roughly 703,000 people (more than the population of Washington D.C.) die by suicide worldwide each year. Sadly, many of these deaths are the result of diagnosed mental disorders, or are due to recent or upcoming crises. Just as sad are the profound negative effects of suicide on society and the decedent's loved ones. Grief, guilt, and shock ripple outward from this act, and are often experienced by surviving family and friends for years. Too, the societal impact is staggering: Suicide costs hundreds of billions of dollars annually in medical and work loss costs.
At UHD, a culture of care pervades everything and everyone, and the university is committed to reducing the risk of suicide
among the Gator community. Naomi Berger-Perez, Director of Counseling Services, says
that this isn't just talk, though ironically, talking about it is crucial for prevention:
"We are working to break the stigma of talking about mental health issues, and encouraging an open dialogue among students, faculty, and staff about suicide," says Berger-Perez. "By normalizing these conversations, we can break
the barriers to suicide being a shameful topic."
That said, as Gators we cannot leave the prevention efforts to the counselors alone. We all have a role in saving lives and ensuring that each member of our Gator community has the support they need—economic, social, emotional—to persevere during a crisis. We aren't all licensed counselors, but we certainly can do our part to create a healthy and supportive campus environment replete with valuable interpersonal connections.
If you'd like to see a tangible landmark of UHD's commitment to this issue, visit Josh's Bench, located on the White Oak Bayou Greenway Trail (between the One Main Building and the Wellness & Success Center). The bright yellow bench signals that, no matter what, every member of campus has a place to rest, as well as resources to help them cope.