Suicide Prevention Week: How SUU's Health Center Fostered Hope and Community
Published: September 25, 2025 | Author: River Deuel | Read Time: 3 minutes
During Suicide Prevention Week, from September 8 to September 11, 2025, Southern Utah University aimed to promote open dialogue, reduce stigma, spread awareness, and share resources surrounding suicide for those who may be struggling. As both a campus and a community, it is our duty to support one another. The SUU Health and Wellness Center hosted events throughout the week to help students do just that.
Anchor Boxes
Each person needs an anchor - a dependable, secure base that keeps them grounded, regardless of what storms may come. An organization titled "Find Your Anchor" aims to create a community of anchors for those in need. This anchor is in the form of a blue box, packed with items like stickers, a letter from a stranger who cares, information sheets, hotline phone numbers, and other resources. They are often easy to find in public places like libraries, requested by someone struggling, or by someone close to them. At SUU, the Health and Wellness Center became home to these boxes, where students were invited to pick up a box for either themselves or someone who may be struggling.
QPR Training
Like CPR, QPR is a form of emergency intervention for people in pain. QPR stands for Question, Persuade, Refer. Two QPR trainings, open to students, faculty, and staff, were held during Suicide Prevention Week.
The "Question" step involves asking someone if they are contemplating suicide. You never know what you don't ask, so it is important to reach out to those who may be struggling. If they are considering suicide, the second step is to "Persuade." In this step, you listen to the problems they are having and offer hope. The final step is to "Refer," which can involve suggesting they speak with a trusted family member, calling a hotline, or seeking medical assistance. Any willingness to accept help is a good outcome.
The Health and Wellness Center hosts several QPR trainings each semester to teach these steps in detail.
World Suicide Prevention Day
World Suicide Prevention Day is on September 10. In addition to a QPR training, the Health and Wellness Center had several tables set up around campus with Honor Beads. HonorBeads are a way to show support for suicide prevention. Each color symbolizes something different, with some examples being red for the loss of a spouse, white for the loss of a child, teal for supporting a loved one who struggles, and blue for general support of the cause. These beads are often worn at "Out of the Darkness Walks."
One of these walks took place on September 13 here in Cedar City, starting at the Main Street Park. For more information on Honor Beads and Out of the Darkness Walks, please visit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Letter Writing
Many people do not let their loved ones know how much they mean to them until it is too late. To close out Suicide Prevention Week, there was a table outside the Health and Wellness Center with everything needed to write a letter to someone students cared about. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please utilize the following resources:
Tags: Student Health and Wellness Campus Resources Community
Contact Information:
Brooke Heath
435-586-5400
brookeheath1@suu.edu