R.U.O.K. Day at the Ohio Union

At the beginning of my freshman year at Ohio State, I joined an organization called Buckeye Campaign Against Suicide, or BCAS for short. This cause is very close to my heart and I loved being able to have a group of students at Ohio State that shared my passion. Towards the end of the academic year, I found out about positions in the group who had provided suicide prevention trainings for BCAS, called Peers Reaching Out. I was immediately attracted to the idea of spreading suicide awareness and prevention in a new way on campus, and applied that spring. After an interview, I was elated to be offered a position in Peers Reaching Out (PROs).

Although I am still involved in BCAS, PROs has provided me with a new outlet for serving the Ohio State community. I have been very active in ensuring communication between the two groups, both of which are overseen by Ohio State University Suicide Prevention. After learning all about the “ins and outs” of suicide prevention training, I began conducting trainings. Since then, I have hosted trainings with groups that include Delta Omega Kappa, Alpha Epsilon Delta, and even my very own Health Science Scholars. It has been an incredibly rewarding experience to be so involved in a group that saves lives. I know that each student who attends the trainings we offer leaves more prepared to handle an emergency situation. I also love that we offer students many ways to approach the topic of depression and suicide. Through these trainings, I know that I am helping to eradicate the stigma associated with mental illness and asking for help. I am very, very proud to be part of the Peers Reaching Out, and look forward to continuing my service with them in the future.