Despite the silence surrounding suicide and depression, these issues are extremely prevalent on our campus. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for college students, averaging to about 1,100 students lost per year.
Sometimes a large university can seem like a machine, and as students we are only a small cog or bolt in the overall structure. This often creates a sense of isolation to anyone struggling with mental health. As students, we are in a constant state of stress. There are many aspects to balance at the same time: school, professionalism, personal development, social pressures, and the list goes on. So, when a student begins to struggle with depression, asking for help seems as if they are admitting weakness or incompetence.
On April 7th, 2013, You Mean More will be holding the second annual UC Berkeley Suicide Prevention Walk, benefiting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Half of the proceeds from the walk will go to support suicide prevention programs for the Bay Area community and the other half will support suicide prevention nationally.
One of the most important programs funded by our walk is the Interactive Screen Program, designed by AFSP, and implemented at the Tang Center right here at Cal. This anonymous screening program works with students in the dorms and is designed to identify at-risk individuals and encourage them to come in for treatment.
This walk creates a statement by having members of the community join together to advocate for acceptance, love, and support. With this walk, we hope to reduce the stigma of suicide on campus and create a platform for such issues to be addressed and advocated for.
We hope that you will support us in our journey to reduce stigma and increase support for mental health. More than that, we hope you believe in this cause and help initiate a crucial social movement on our campus, and campuses across the nation.
Event Details
Date: April 7th, 2013
Time: 11:00am-3:00pm
Location: Upper Sproul Plaza, UC Berkeley
There will be a resource fair with different organizations focused on mental health, several activities, and some amazing speakers and performers.
Register here: tinyurl.com/ucbsuicidepreventionwalk2013
You can register as an individual walker, create a team, or join team. Once you register, you will automatically have your own fundraising page that you can personalize and send out to friends and family for donations.
If you have any questions or comments please free to contact us at youmeanmore@gmail.com
