Most campus officials don’t like the look of empty seats.
But at College of the Canyons this week, they were out on display for everyone to see, with a potentially life-saving purpose.
The Student Health Center at College of the Canyons’ Valencia campus had 1,100 chairs arranged on its Honor Grove on Tuesday and Wednesday, a stark reminder that many students die annually by suicide.
The Shine a Light on Suicide event at COC is an effort by the campus to let its community know help is available, and no one has to struggle on their own, according to the college.
The display has a similar goal as Stop the Stigma, a Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital event this past weekend by Mental Health Hookup, an organization dedicated to helping people find resources for care.
This year was the college’s 15th anniversary of the event, which was organized by Priscilla Benites, a mental health supervisor and counselor at College of the Canyons.
Larry Schallert, former assistant director of the campus’ center and a member of the county’s Behavioral Health Commission, said it was a timely acknowledgement of National Suicide Prevention Month.
The idea is to promote the conversation around mental health and local resources in an effort to make both more accessible.
“It’s extremely important because it’s a dramatic reminder to students, faculty, staff, and the community that student wellness is very important and often college students struggle with mental health issues stemming from stress trauma, family problems, and other pressures.
COC students are eligible for a half-dozen free counseling sessions with their enrollment, Schallert said.
Fred Arnold, a member of the college’s governing board who was around for the event’s setup on Tuesday, said as a trustee, it was a powerful reminder that students “face so many different challenges than school.”
“It opens your eyes to the truth of what’s happening out there, and then it allows us to contemplate and ask questions on how to better serve, to help our students get through challenging times in their lives,” he added.
For those looking for free or low-cost mental health resources in the community, visit BeTheDifferenceSCV.org. Those experiencing a mental health crisis can dial 988.
Info box
- 50% of all lifetime mental illnesses begin by age 14.
- 75% develop by age 24.
- 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness
- 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness
- 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 face a mental health disorder
