CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–September 2, 2014. Roosevelt University will mark World Suicide Prevention Day on Wednesday, Sept. 10 with A Night of Hope, an awareness program on suicide prevention that is open to all college students, as well as the public, in Chicago’s busy South Loop college corridor.
The program, being held at 7 p.m. in Roosevelt’s 2nd floor Congress Lounge, 430 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, is led by a Roosevelt University student, Brandon Rohlwing (pictured at left), whose personal experiences with suicide have spurred him to help troubled young people.
“There is a lot of stigma surrounding suicide and mental health issues, particularly on college campuses,” said Rohlwing, 20, a resident assistant at Roosevelt’s Wabash Building and a national suicide-prevention activist who lost an older sister to suicide and also considered taking his own life during high school while coming to terms with being gay.
“My goal is to create awareness about suicide prevention and a culture at Roosevelt and beyond that embraces those who are struggling emotionally, letting them know that resources are available to help,” said Rohlwing.
According to the Center for Disease Control, suicide is the second leading cause of death among traditional-aged college students ages 18 to 24. Marking World Suicide Prevention Day and national Suicide Prevention Week, A Night of Hope begins at 6:30 p.m. with a pre-event social. Presentations and a panel discussion follow at 7 p.m.
Speakers will include: Nicola Survanshi, director of programs and operations for ReachOut.com/Inspire USA Foundation, an international not-for-profit whose mission is to help youth strengthen mental wellness through technology-driven resources and peer support; Brandon Rohlwing, one of 10 nationwide youth counselors/mentors for ReachOut.com, and the only one from Chicago who gives college students tips and advice electronically for handling a variety of day-to-day stresses and problems; and Matthew Hoffman, creator of Chicago’s “You are Beautiful” sticker campaign.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information or to register for Night of Hope visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/718200094883983.
Source: http://www.roosevelt.edu
