Suicide prevention and awareness "It's okay to get help"
Maya Dickerson - News and Opinion Editor
September is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. This month, people are encouraged to share their mental health stories and prioritize mental wellness.
“I think that suicide and suicidal thoughts are a lot more common than people think,” said Megan McGruder, Director of Student Well-Being. “You do not necessarily need to be diagnosed with a mental health condition to have suicidal thoughts. I feel like that is a misconception people have.”
Joining Monmouth College on July 15, McGruder is passionate about educating and raising awareness about students’ mental health struggles. “The rates of suicide have been going up over the years, especially with college-aged groups. It is very prevalent,” said McGruder. “I think the more education and awareness that is out there, the more we can help our peers and know where to get help.”
There are several signs that someone suffering suicidal thoughts can demonstrate. Peers can become socially isolated, act out of character, or struggle to get out of bed.
“Anytime you are concerned about someone’s safety in that moment call Campus Safety and they will check on that student,” said McGruder. “They can make sure they can get connected with who they need to get connected to.”
The TimelyCare app is a resource students can use to get help. TimelyCare is partnered with the school to offer students counseling. The app's “TalkNow” helps students get in touch with a mental health specialist when they need to.
As another resource on campus, students can come to McGruder. “People can walk in. They can send me an email to schedule an appointment, and I can get them connected,” said McGruder.
McGruder has some suggestions on how students can maintain mental wellness.
“Easier said than done but maintaining that balance and making sure you are getting rest and taking care of yourself,” said McGruder. “Again, I feel like a lot of people do not think they need help or feel like they do not meet the criteria to get help, but everyone has mental health. Everybody needs help sometimes. It is best to catch things when they are first starting than to wait for a crisis.”
Mental health is important to take care of, not only this month, but year-round.
“It's okay to get help, and you’re not alone,” said McGruder. “It feels very isolating when you are struggling with mental health or having suicidal thoughts. It's hard to remind yourself in the moment that you have these resources so having things ready now is really helpful for that prevention.”