Suicide Prevention Club by sahib

Suicide Prevention Club by sahib - December 2019 Scholarship Essay

Throughout my life, I have overcome depression, loneliness, insecurity and anxiety; all common emotions of many teenagers. Through this experience, I have gained an understanding that sometimes life can get overwhelming and that a caring hand can make a significant difference. To make my school and community a better environment, I joined the Suicide Prevention Club during my junior year. I know what it is like to want to quit on life and because of that, I wanted to help my peers find value in theirs.
The goal of the Suicide Prevention Club is to spread awareness and share the resources available to not only those facing these struggles but to those affected by these tragic thoughts of suicide. Brainstorming ideas to spread awareness about suicide prevention is tough; we had to be creative. Our club wanted to reach out to kids, we wanted to educate and prepare parents while their children are young. We decided to host an event at the park where we provided informational booklets about suicide to give to parents, while their children could enjoy fun activities such as drawing and playing games. The club’s mission did not focus on the details of a person’s life but focused on bringing everyone together for a common cause in a non-threatening manner.
One of the ways I contributed to creating a change in our school culture was having our club create yellow ribbons to display on classroom doors. Each teacher who agreed to displaying a ribbon on their door had a conversation with their class about suicide prevention awareness month and the meaning behind the yellow ribbon symbol. Teachers encouraged students to talk about feelings, get help and most importantly, remind them that we all struggle at times.
This club is like no other in my school; we create conversations around a stigmatized subject that is difficult to talk about. This club has made a positive impact in my life, and I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to share it with my community all while making meaningful connections with my peers.