September marks the start of Suicide Prevention Month. Since 2008, Americans have taken the month of September to mourn the loss of those who have passed away from suicide as well as connect those afflicted by crisis to proper treatment services.

Every year, 1,100 college students in the United States pass away from suicide. Iowa State is no different from any other university where these tragedies occur, making this issue personal for many.

Iowa State offers cost-free crisis counseling for all individuals, with a same-day turnaround on appointment scheduling.

“Reach out as you notice that things are building,” Michelle Roling, assistant director of outreach for Student Counseling Services (SCS), said. “I think our students are often so kind and compassionate and concerned to take resources from other people that sometimes they are hesitant to reach out for their own help.”

SCS has a plethora of resources available for students who are experiencing a decline in mental health. SCS provides workshops, group counseling and individual counseling and is able to connect students with mental health providers in Ames:

• Workshops: a three-week-long commitment that provides students with coping skills and a sense of community on campus.
• Group counseling: a weekly 90-minute meeting that allows students to connect with one another in a supportive environment. To begin group counseling, students select a group they would feel comfortable in and will be placed according to their needs and desires.
• Individual counseling: Typically occurs every other week, with students completing four to eight sessions. This type of counseling is a cost-free, short-term solution, as SCS provides students with up to eight individual sessions.

“I really want to encourage students to reach out as soon as things feel a little bit off,” Roling said. “[The definition of crisis] is anything that is feeling overwhelming. Sometimes, I think students are worried about using one of those resources if they’re a little bit anxious. You do not have to be experiencing suicidal thoughts to utilize one of those crisis resources.”

NAMI on Campus is a student organization dedicated to educating Iowa State students about mental health resources and raising awareness for mental health afflictions. NAMI wants students to know that though the organization is not meant to perform as a support group, they are more than willing to connect students with mental health resources.

“Mental health on campus is something I feel like has been pretty underspoken,” said Ben Kujawa, president of NAMI on Campus’ Iowa State chapter and a senior studying forestry. “I feel like, being students, we all want to put our lives into so many buckets. Whether it’s social, or whether it’s sports or academics, it can get really stressful and overwhelming… I think it’s really important to prioritize your mental health.”

NAMI on Campus will be holding its first meeting of the semester at 7 p.m. Tuesday in room 2158 in Pearson Hall.

Kujawa said that NAMI aims to make seeking mental health help a less daunting task.

“I feel like a lot of people see something like going to Student Counseling as daunting because it’s very official,” Kujawa said. “If you’re just going to a club, it’s a little bit different. The thing that’s great about our club is it’s not a club for [certain majors], it’s just a club for people who are interested in mental health or taking care of themselves.”

Students who feel a need for community and/or mental health assistance can attend NAMI meetings while seeking mental health resources from SCS or other resources in Ames.

Suicide Prevention Week runs from Sunday to Saturday this week. Every year on the Friday of Suicide Prevention Week, SCS holds the Field of Memories event on the south lawn of Parks Library.

“We will be planting 1,100 yellow flags,” Roling said. “Each flag is representative of one of the United States college students who die by suicide every year. The Iowa State community is invited to write on one of the flags… It’s a way to engage and help our community register how important suicide prevention really is.”

Student Counseling Services will be holding the event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday.

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, reach out. Your life matters.

Student Counseling Services: Website, 515-294-5802

NAMI on Campus: Instagram, Website

Suicide Prevention Hotline: Call or text 988

Crisis Text Line: Text 741741