Suicide awareness month September used to highlight on-campus mental health services

TAYLOR THIBODAUX Reporter @taylorthibbs

Pierce College brings awareness to suicide prevention by dedicating a full week to teach students the signs of mental illness and informing them of on-campus resources. The week of Sept. 11, the Student Health Center was on the Mall raising awareness about suicide prevention.

According to school psychologist Niaz Khani, the Student Health Center provides students with multiple resources to become educated about suicide.

“We went out three times, set up a table, and provided literature,” Khani said. “Basically, we tried to talk to students about the statistics of the past couple of years, and how many people we lost to suicide.”

According to USA Today, one in 12 U.S. college students make a suicide plan every year.

“We informed them about what signs to look for if they have friends or family. If they have ever felt suicidal, we tell them the signs they need to pay attention to, and what resources are available,” Khani said.

Student Health Center Director

Beth Benne introduced a program that helps students recognize the early signs of possible suicide.

“Kognito is an avatar-based training program that helps students learn to pick up some signs for what they should be looking for. It helps students have open-ended conversations with people they are concerned about. It helps them learn how to refer and help others, whether it be talking to a professor, going to the Student Health Center or bringing the friend to the center,” Benne said.

According to Benne, the program is free.

“Kognito is a program that is available to all community colleges at no cost throughout the state, throughout the spring 2018 semester,” Benne said.

If you are a student, you are able to see a professional therapist up to 6 times throughout the semester at the Student Health Center.

ASO Senator Gisela Tarifa said she had no idea Pierce College offered therapy sessions.

“I wish I had known about this option. I had to cancel my therapy sessions because I was unable to afford them,” Tarifa said. “Now that I know the Student Health Center offers offers this resource, I will be using it to my advantage.”

Tarifa said she is glad therapy is offered on campus. “This is such an excellent resource because therapy is expensive. As a

“We can't just keep thinking that there's just one history, just one way of thinking, one perspective view of society in general,” said Tsuha. “We have a tendency to homogenize Latinos.”

The DACA march was a sign of students taking matters into their own hands said Tsuha.

“I was really proud with our students, it shows initiative, it shows boldness,” said Tsuha. “As faculty, our main role was to show up and support.”

Macias believes embracing heritage isn’t something that should be saved for one month a year.

“We should be celebrating everybody's identities and cultures throughout the year,” Macias said.