FALL 2017
We started off the semester strong in September with National Suicide Prevention Week, a national campaign intended to inform and engage the public about suicide prevention and the warning signs of suicide. We hosted a week of campus-wide events for NSPW 2017 in an effort to reduce the stigma surrounding suicide, as well as encourage asking for help in times of crisis.
Our first event was Chalk Out Stigma. Our members chalked messages around campus to help raise awareness among our peers about suicide prevention. If even just one person took these messages to heart, we’ll have made an incredible difference.
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Next, for Post Up Against Stigma, we posted sticky notes with information, support, encouragement, and resources around campus. We sought to let people know both to seek help in times of crisis and to be there for family and friends who need emotional support.
We finished the week strong by tabling and flyering. We distributed posters designed by our own Elle Lee, which identified warning signs of suicide, how to help someone suicidal, and common symptoms of depression in an effort to let our community know that everyone has a role to play in suicide prevention.
Thanks to everyone who participated in our events for National Suicide Prevention Week! We loved all the support, but remember, it doesn’t end here. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for college students, but just one conversation can change a life. We all have a responsibility to get informed and involved.
In October, several of our officers and members volunteered with It’s On Us, a national movement seeking to raise awareness and end sexual assault on campus. Many of our members took the pledge to change the way we think and talk about consent.
During this semester, we also began our round table series. If you’d like to learn more about this series, check out the Round Table tab under the Projects header!
Also in October, several of our officers and members attended the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Out of the Darkness Walk in Dallas, which is the AFSP’s biggest fundraising event to raise money for suicide prevention programs nationwide. We are so proud of these members for helping to make a difference, and we hope to bring a bigger group to the next event!
The final event of the fall semester was Benelit, a joint effort with UTD Dhunki and UTD Dancing for a Cause! It was an awesome night, featuring musical performances from Dhunki and DFC, and a guest speaker from NAMI Dallas. We raffled off some Kendra Scott jewelry, and all proceeds went to the National Alliance on Mental Illness and their mission to the change the way the world views mental health. We want to thank both groups for turning up for a good cause, and since Benelit was so much fun, we’re hoping to bring it back bigger and better in the future!
SPRING 2018
We continued our biweekly round tables, covering topics such as opening up about mental illness, cognitive-behavioral therapy, stress management, body positivity, and exercise.
We had many events planned for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week in February and March of 2018! Our goal was to help raise educated awareness and to encourage support and treatment within our community. We began the week with Operation Beautiful. Our members took the time to write encouraging notes regarding self-confidence and body positivity on Post-Its and distributed them across campus for everyone to read.
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During the week, we also tabled in the Student Union with information and resources for the student body. Additionally, we had our wonderful guest speaker Kimberly Martinez from the Elisa Project, a local organization seeking to provide advocacy and support for those affected by unhealthy relationships with food, give a really impactful talk to many of our members. Lastly, we wrapped up the week with Chalk Out, as we decorated the campus with colorful and positive messages for everyone to read on their daily trek to class!
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We have a documentary over NEDAW 2018 coming soon, so be on the look out for that!
In April, we held a mental health workshop with the UTD Gammas. Our officers did an excellent job of organizing activities and resources that dealt with topics such as CBT, stress management, opening up about mental illness, and supporting someone else who may be struggling. We want to thank the Gammas for being so enthusiastic and willing to learn, and we would love to host more events like this to really get the student body involved in our mission!
We wrapped up our year with Comet Confessions, an event we worked on with the UTD Student Counseling Center, in which we asked the student body to submit anonymous confessions. We held a final event for students to read and respond to the submissions. There was a guest speaker from NAMI Dallas, giveaways, fun activities, and food and drinks for all! If you’d like to learn more, check out our Comet Confessions tab under the Projects header!