Southeast hosts Suicide Prevention Week activities starting Sunday

Southeast Missouri State University will observe Suicide Prevention Week beginning Sunday, with a variety of events to promote suicide prevention and awareness through Sept. 25.

The fifth annual Out of the Darkness community suicide prevention walk Sunday will begin the week's events.

The walk will take place at Cape County Park North, and more than 300 people have registered so far, said event organizer Laura Matlock-Hill.

Matlock-Hill lost her brother in January 2011. Soon after, she became involved with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

At the first community walk, about 150 people participated. It has grown ever since, she said, and more than 400 are expected to participate this year.

About $9,000 in donations had been raised Wednesday, and the goal is to collect $20,000.

"It's a great event," Matlock-Hill said. "It's for everyone, whether you've lost someone to suicide or you have struggled with suicide or mental illness or you're just there to support the cause."

Southeast's Counseling and Disability Services will have a resource booth at the walk.

The event includes food and drinks, music, guest speakers, door prizes, a memorial for those who have lost someone to suicide and a special tribute to veterans who have died by suicide. There also will be an award ceremony for the top three teams and top three individuals.

Those who want to participate, either as a team or individually, can register online at afsp.donordrive.com.

Online registration closes at noon Friday. Anyone who wants to participate, however, can register in person at the walk from 10 a.m. until it starts at noon.

Walk donations are accepted until Dec. 31.

At Southeast, dove-shaped suicide prevention pledges will be available in the University Center, third-floor lobby area for $1 throughout suicide prevention week.

All proceeds will be donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and the pledges will be posted in the University Center to create awareness for suicide prevention.

An activities schedule released by Southeast details the week's events, times and locations:

• From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at the University Center, free semicolon temporary tattoos will be provided by the Redhawk Health Educators. Project Semicolon is a global mental-health awareness campaign that encourages people to draw or tattoo semicolons on their bodies as a way to represent and support those dealing with mental illness or loss of someone from suicide.
• At 9 a.m. Tuesday, Yakking Back, a social media training on suicide prevention, will be provided by Heather Jenkins from Community Counseling Center. The training will be in the University Center Mississippi Room. Free, confidential depression screenings also will be offered at the Kenneth and Jeanine Dobbins River Campus Center Atrium from 1 to 3 p.m.
• On Wednesday, the Residence Hall Association will host a cupcake decorating event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the University Center to raise awareness of students' unique characteristics that make them irreplaceable. Counseling and Disability Services will coordinate free, confidential depression screenings during that time.
• The National Residence Hall Honorary on Sept. 24 will host the "I Won't Stand For" campaign from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Kent Library. Also on Sept. 24, the Community Counseling Center will host the 2015 SE Missouri Suicide Prevention and Awareness Conference from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at La Croix Church in Cape Girardeau. Registration and details can be found at suicideawarenessconference.eventbrite.com.
• The Redhawk Health Educators from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 25 will host Puppies for Suicide Prevention, featuring puppies from the Humane Society.
• The final event at noon Sept. 25 will be the release of dove-shaped balloons and a group photo at Academic Terraces. All Southeast students, faculty and staff are invited to attend the balloon release.

klamb@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3639

Pertinent address:

1 University Plaza, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

2400 County Park Drive, Cape Girardeau, Mo.