Members of the Bowling Green community and Sigma Nu Fraternity gathered in downtown Bowling Green at LifeSkills, a local organization that provides services to those with mental illnesses or struggling with addiction, to spread awareness about suicide prevention at their third annual Suicide Prevention Proclamation event on Wednesday.

The event hosted an array of speakers that shared information about the prevalence of suicide in the nation, and encouraged the use of proactive measures to reach those in need.

“We know that stigma about mental health is still a major factor in people seeking help for mental health or substance use issues,” Katie Hopper, children’s services director at LifeSkills, said in an email, “ The hope is to start the conversations in the community about suicide prevention and treatment and crisis options that are out there.”

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide rates increased about 36% from 2000-2022. And in 2022, an estimated 13.2 million adults seriously though about committing suicide, 3.8 million planned a suicide attempt and 1.6 million attempted suicide.

“It’s really, really important that we acknowledge that suicide affects literally everyone, all ages, all races, all beliefs, all backgrounds,” Hopper said at the event.

Sigma Nu’s chapter president, Braden Clough, discussed hazing culture on college campuses and ways campus organizations should make mental health a priority.

Clough encouraged all those in attendance to have serious conversations with those in their lives that are either in college or about to be in college.

According to the University of Central Florida, in 95% of cases where students identified being the target of hazing, they did not report the events to campus officials.

“I encourage you all – I implore you all – start talking about it,” Clough said. “Make it okay. It does happen.”

Clough said that Sigma Nu is committed to being an advocate for positive change.

“Hazing has no place in a college community or anywhere,” Clough said.

Londa Stockton, the child and family center manager at LifeSkills, also emphasized creating an environment for youth to feel comfortable sharing struggles.

Stockton said parents and adults need to ask their youth more than just, “How are you?” Instead, questions should prompt a personal response, getting to the heart of their emotions.

Following the speakers, Bowling Green Mayor Todd Alcott was joined by members of the City Commisioner’s office to read the Suicide Prevention Proclamation.

“We proclaim Warren County Suicide Prevention Month for September 2024,” Alcott told the audience, “In order to raise community awareness about suicide prevention in our nation, September is recognizing Suicide Prevention Month, a time where millions of people join their voices to raise awareness of suicide prevention, treatment and recovery.”

News Reporter Cameron Shaw can be reached at [email protected].