The 84 tombstones laid out in front of Reamer Campus Center are not meant to scare, but to educate.
Eighty-four represents the average number of suicides per day in the United States. Each tombstone will be marked with statistics and other pertinent information relating to depression and suicide prevention.
“Among the college student population, suicide is the second leading cause of death after accidents,” said Marcus Hotaling, director of the Counseling Center at Silliman Hall. “We’re trying to reduce the stigma around seeking help and also draw attention to the signs and symptoms of depression and suicidal thinking.
“If you are struggling, you can reach out for help, or if someone you know is struggling, you can help them.”
The Counseling Center will mark National Depression Screening Day on Friday, Oct. 10, with an information, education and outreach program from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The screening day takes place each October during Mental Illness Awareness Week to call attention to the illness of depression on a national level and educate the public about its symptoms and effective treatments.
The most common signs of depression are sleep disturbances (sleeping all the time or having difficulty falling or staying asleep); change in appetite (constant eating or loss of appetite); and inability to find pleasure in things once considered enjoyable.
“There is a range of emotion and normative depression around many issues that will not lead to suicidal thinking; these can be handled on your own or by talking to a professional,” Hotaling said. “It becomes a problem when the pain is so significant the person starts thinking about wanting to end it.”
For more information on Friday’s screening program, contact Hotaling at hotalinm@union.edu.