By: Gabriel Williams, Staff Writer

One life lost is one too many. In support of National Suicide Prevention Week, the Armstrong campus of Georgia Southern University will host several empowerment events for students as part of a national effort in preventing suicide.

Suicide Prevention Week was the collective effort of Active Minds, PEP, Health Promotions, and Counseling. These organizations worked to develop programs that would bring awareness to suicide this week.

Health Service and Peers Educating Peers (PEP) will also be coordinating events that week as well.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people ages 20-24. In fact, 1-in-12 college students in the United States plans suicide. Many young adults feel that there isn’t anyone they can trust and talk about their problems with.

However, Armstrong has people that can you help through whatever you are going through, right now.

Georgia Southern University Counseling Center on both the Armstrong and Statesboro campus offer a range of services to all students. Peers Educating Peers (PEP) is a peer education program within Health Promotions. Peer educators provide information and awareness on topics of intimate wellness, personal and sexual health, mental and emotional wellness, healthy eating, physical activity, and alcohol and other drugs.

An anonymous representative from the organization also said, “We want to help spread awareness of mental health and let students know we are here for them,” and also mentioned that there will be an open mic performance for students to share their testimonials and also enter in to win a $25 gift card.

This event will be in honor of those who have lost their lives to suicide, especially the 1,100 college students who die each year from suicide.  To participate in the event or to be involved with the organization, contact Active Minds at activemindsarmstrong@gmail.com.