Clemson recognizes Suicide Prevention and Awareness Week on main campus Sept. 16-20

The month of September is a whirlwind of excitement at Clemson, marked by the settling-in of new and returning students, electric home football games, and plenty more. Beyond the university, September is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. This year, Clemson Undergraduate Student Government (CUSG) will be hosting events throughout the week of Sept. 16-20 to call attention to the subject of mental health and connect students with wellness resources on campus.

Mental health is often one of the biggest barriers to student success, and Clemson University is playing its part by pouring attention and resources into well-being programs campus-wide. College is a critical, transitional time, and Clemson is creating a space where students feel supported as they prepare for and enter the next chapter of their journey.

CUSG's Health and Human Services Committee will be managing the week's affairs, and this year, for the first time, will be working closely in coordination with the Inclusion and Equity Committee in an effort to reach a broader audience and maximize the overall impact at Clemson during such a significant month.

The week begins on Monday, Sept. 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m, students will have the opportunity to sign and decorate a banner in front of Cooper Library, which will be hung from the bridge to spread awareness about mental health. The banner will display an encouraging message to students throughout the week. Members of CUSG will also be distributing Suicide Prevention and Awareness ribbon pins to serve as tangible reminders of the significance of mental wellness.

The banner signage continues into Tuesday, Sept. 17, but the primary event of this day will be an inspiring note exchange from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Students passing by Cooper Library will have the opportunity to write uplifting messages to their classmates, as well as find support for themselves by taking a pre-written note. Additionally, CUSG has partnered with the Clemson chapter of the national "If You're Reading This" organization-a community-based mental health program that offers a space for individuals to be vulnerable and find support by submitting personal stories online.

The highlight event of the week will be Wednesday Sept. 18: CUSG will be holding a panel event in the Amphitheater from 5:30-7 p.m. with members of the faculty, administration, and staff from the Clemson Well-Being Council. These speakers will discuss moments of hardship they were able to overcome, offering valuable words of wisdom rooted in personal experience. Students will have the option to pose questions to the panel at the end. There will also be a table for students to make cards for patients at the local Patrick B. Harris Psychiatric Hospital in Anderson-providing a unique chance to directly connect with off-campus mental health programs.

Following the panel, a wide variety of university clubs and organizations will be tabling in the North Green from 12-2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19. Groups such as Healthy Campus, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Interpersonal Violence Response (IVR) coordinators and more will be present with the ultimate goal of showcasing the complete collection of mental health and well-being resources that are available on campus for students.

The week concludes on Friday, Sept. 20 with a visit from local therapy dogs in the Battle Buddies program-a course designed to train service dogs for veterans and those suffering from PTSD. Students who stop by Bowman Field between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. will be able to pet the dogs, grab an energy drink, and write notes of thanks and encouragement to members of the U.S. military, if they so choose.

Sasha Suggs, the sophomore CUSG Health and Human Services Committee chair, gives her perspective on the importance of these efforts. Characterizing CUSG as "the voice for the student body," she says, "I think it's important-not just as students who want to help students, but also to seek out these opportunities to talk to other students because of the position we've been put in. That way, we can better Clemson's campus and contribute further to the No. 1 student experience."

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