Archived News | Return to News Center

March 30, 2011

ULM to sponsor MINDFEST March 31

What: MINDFEST
Where: ULM Quad
When: 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Thursday, March 31

MINDFEST is hosted by ULM HELPS (Helping Educators and Learners Prevent Suicide) in partnership with ULM's Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic, Community Counseling Center and ULM Counseling Center.

MINDFEST is a two-fold awareness campaign for ULM students, faculty and staff.

First, MINDFEST hopes to help open a dialog about mental health on campus.

Second, MINDFEST wants to "send silence packing."

To open the dialog, student interns, clinicians, and faculty from the three therapy/counseling centers on campus will at the ULM Quad ready to meet and talk to patrons.

Also, there will be information on how to get involved through QPR training or joining the new Active Minds student organization.

Send silence packing, a visual display that is appearing around the nation, will be unveiled at the event.

This display will represent each of the 1,100 college students who died by suicide this year.

Suicide affects everyone.

Every life lost is a tragedy and indication that more help and prevention is needed.

"United, we can pull together to bring and build awareness to ULM and beyond," said Dr. Jana Sutton, Principal Investigator for ULM HELPS.

According to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); behavioral health is essential to health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people recover.

"ULM HELPS is working to educate ULM faculty, staff, police officers, students and their families to recognize the warning signs of mental health issues and then to direct the person in need to find help.

ULM HELPS wants to let all students and personnel know that there are many people on the ULM campus who ready and wanting help others in need, " said Peggy Buffington, Project Director for ULM HELPS.

PLEASE NOTE: Some links and e-mail addresses in these archived news stories may no longer work, and some content may include events which are no longer relevent, or reference individuals and/or organizations no longer associated with ULM.