‘Talk Saves Lives’ suicide prevention discussion is Monday

The UNMC campus is invited to a “Talk Saves Lives” presentation Monday, Sept. 23, from 3-4:30 p.m. in the Sorrell Center, room 2018.

The event is sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the UNMC student Out of the Darkness Campus Walk committee and UNMC Counseling and Psychological Services. September is recognized as Suicide Prevention Month.

“The Out of the Darkness Campus Walk committee strives to open the conversation about mental health and make the campus community aware of what resources are available,” said Hilary Vaughn, the walk’s student coordinator and pharmacy student at UNMC. “Through this training, we are advancing our goals of connecting the campus with resources and introducing basic suicide prevention skills.”

The event will be presented by Jennifer Sparrock, manager of Psychiatric Emergency Services at Nebraska Medicine and AFSP-Nebraska board member. Topics covered will include the impact of suicide, contributors to suicide and protective factors, and how suicide may impact certain communities differently. Participants will learn how to recognize suicide warning signs, how to start a conversation about suicide with someone who may be struggling and ways to seek and offer support and crisis resources.

“As an AFSP presenter, I’m deeply encouraged by the efforts UNMC students are making to shine a light on the importance of mental health and the role we can all play in suicide prevention,” Sparrock said.

The 20^th annual AFSP Out of the Darkness Community Walk will be held Saturday, September 28 at Stinson Park. UNMC and Nebraska Medicine are sponsors for the event and invite the campus community to join the team by registering online.

Earlier this week, the student Out of the Darkness Campus Walk Committee participated in The Kim Foundation’s annual Chalk it Up for More Tomorrows campaign. UNMC students drew pictures and wrote inspirational messages of hope on the pavement near the UNMC College of Pharmacy. The committee is planning its first walk on the UNMC campus in spring 2025.