"Once every 18 minutes someone in the U.S. dies by suicide. Every 19 minutes someone is left to make sense of it."
On this statistic from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the University begins Depression and Suicide Awareness week.
"Lifting the Darkness" was started last year by fourth-year College student Samantha Gavin.
"I lost my dad to suicide at the age of 15. Ever since then, I have found there aren't any open forums to discuss suicide," Gavin said. "Especially on college campuses, [suicide and depression] are growing problems."
Prompted by these concerns, Gavin said she started the week to raise awareness among the students of issues that traditionally have been kept silent.
"The goal of this week is information distribution," Gavin said. "Basically it's to get people talking, to open up avenues for people to get started talking about different topics."In accordance with this goal, Gavin said 1,000 information packets are being distributed at the Lawn this week.
The packets cover information such as common myths about suicide, symptoms of depression and suggestions on how to help a friend considering suicide or experiencing depression.
From last year's efforts, Gavin said she has noticed students being affected by the information they received.
"I've seen a very positive response. I've had a lot of people coming back and asking questions," Gavin said. "I definitely think it's helping to get people to talk about suicide and depression."
In addition to the information at the Lawn, there are two events featured today.
The first is a free depression screening by the University's Counseling and Psychological Services. These screenings will take place on the second floor of Newcomb from 10-2.
This evening there will be a vigil and a march. A guest speaker will discuss issues of depression and suicide with students.
Following her talk, there will be a procession to the Rotunda. A candlelight vigil will be held there at 8.
Gavin said she hopes that these few days of awareness will encourage people to be more open about issues of suicide and depression.
"There's such a big social stigma attached to it. It's a deep, dark secret that no one talks about," Gavin said. "So the whole idea [of this week] is to lift the darkness and give light to these topics"
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