By: Sydney Taylor
Graphic courtesy of Lakewood Police Department
September marks National Suicide Prevention Month, a time dedicated not only to suicide awareness but also to shedding light on all mental health issues and erasing the stigma surrounding them. Mental health is a serious issue that affects everyone. According to the Centers for Disease Control’s website, over 49,000 people died by suicide in 2023. That means there was one death every 11 minutes. Suicide rates reached a record high in 2022, following several years of decline.
For college students, especially, balancing school, sports, work, and relationships can be overwhelming. Prioritizing your mental wellness is essential. Unfortunately, many mental health issues are accompanied by stigma, which discourages individuals from reaching out and seeking help. This month is a crucial reminder that promoting open conversation and community support can make a difference in removing the stigma around mental health.
The University of the Cumberlands offers free counseling services to all students. The Counseling Center is located in the Browning Annex across from the Ward-Correll Science Building. In addition to the counseling services, help numbers are posted throughout campus and online. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues or thoughts of suicide, reach out to those around you. Coaches, professors, teammates and friends are all around, and embracing this community can help with feelings of loneliness. You are never alone in your fight. Reach out. Speak up. The world is a better place with you in it.
Senior Morgan Roberts shares her experience by saying, “Suicide prevent month is a great time to become QPR certified. I took the QPR class after I lost my brother to suicide so that I could be better equipped to prevent losing someone else in the future. The class taught me to become comfortable with asking anyone if a person is suicidal, for the purpose of preventing action on suicidal plans.” She went on to say that “the counseling center is really easy to get a new appointment with. When I first started going, I was reassured that nobody would be told that I had appointments there”.
Junior Sarah Zoellner also reflected on her experience at the UC counseling center, saying, “The counseling center has been extremely helpful for me. They are great at giving an unbiased opinion and really searching through the issues with a calm and thoughtful approach.”
At the University of the Cumberlands, community is valued. Embracing that connection and having people in your corner can have a powerful impact. Simply being there for someone and checking in can make a significant difference in their life. Being able to recognize the warning signs of suicide is also important. Some indicators may include withdrawing from friends and activities, increasing mood swings, substance abuse, or expressing feelings of hopelessness. Everyone has a role to play in breaking the stigma around mental health. By starting conversations, sharing resources available, and fostering compassion, we can all create a more supportive and stigma-free environment.
September 18, 2025