Widener students delve into issue of suicide

To the Times: According to the Center of Disease Control, middle school suicides doubled from 2007 to 2014. San Diego State Psychology Professor Jean Twenge report has reported that suicide and teen depression rates have skyrocketed since 2011. And unfortunately, many families are still loath to disclose the cause of death as suicide in obituaries, due to the shame surrounding this epidemic.

Earlier this year, the Associated Press reported that 43 of the top 100 universities in the country did not track suicide rates on their campus. Yet, suicide is the second leading cause of death in 15-34 year olds in the US.

Yet, in spite of all science has disclosed about the brain/body connection, many individuals will readily disclose a physical illness, but hide mental illness, ranging from depression and anxiety to schizophrenia. That is often true of adolescents and college students, who hide their pain from their friends, classmates and parents.

Our team of Communication Studies seniors at Widener University is seeking to break the stigma associated with mental illnesses and suicide.

So for this past academic year, we have teamed up with The Invisible Illnesses, a nonprofit agency dedicated to reducing the negative stigma of mental health. Founder Emily Torchiana (winner of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award for Public Service) travels the country hosting free mental health workshops for students educating them about mental health and suicide prevention.

Two weeks ago, Torchiana visited Widener University to conduct

a sample workshop. The event was powerful for the mixed audience of students, faculty and counselors.

In the past seven months, over 700 students have participated in similar workshops on college and high school campuses. Many more such events could be held with adequate funding.

As part of our year-long Senior Capstone class, we have created a donation page (youcaring.com/theinvisibleillnesses-1090866) with the goal of raising $5,000 for future workshops.

Mental illnesses are real; they happen to everyday people – like those in your own family. It’s time we let those we love know they are