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Show 17 ' MO, 4 9 JLJJI ) g about s A f ,r71 11 hA, 0 ; a t I i a 4 i 1 C:, 1 k ' t e STUDENTS SHARE STORIES, DISCUSS RESOURCES IN HOUOR OF SUICIDE AWARENESS MONTH ' -.- .. -. , , tim i , z , , , , ( I , ... 1 ,, ) , t I . , 1 II. If ! ' i t met t , -- ... - .. . -- - -.- ... , - , --.- , , t .. at ' , I -- -, ) ' i - I 4:',....,,,,... ; e' ,.... N. I rt I k k Y ,,......"..N, 1 ,.........,,,,......, c..1,,.. .. F s . I ' ( - , . . ,, -, ' . , . i ,A - 4k , : , i! - -- , 1 f ic ,, . ,.. , T c i i . . -- ?-- ,t,,,,,Nk , zcc ,. t i c z t I 1 t 1, 1 ,..m4 u., 1 -- - E ,.31' I , t ' u c Z 2rr. , - 1 BY I SPENCER RICKS Spencer Ricks became so intense, she considered suicide. "I may have planned (suicide), but I never fully attempted," Hansen said. Hansen said it took prescribed "It sounds 66 severe After battling for and years losing four people in her life to suicide, Ashley Hansen is taking her message of suicide awareness to Dixie State University. Hansen, a junior biology major from Ogden, is running for Miss Dixie this year with suicide awareness as her platform. She is also organizing a team from DSU for the St. George Out of the Darkness Walk Sept. 30, which is a fundraiser for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Hansen said no matter how happy someone may seem on the outside, they could still be fighting mental illness or suicidal WEDNESDAY 27, 2111 SEPTEMBER VOLUME XLVI NO. 6 rç I , 4 L rOjk 1 '4 IIVOICEORIXIE DIXIESUNNEWS.COM I kings WHAT'S n INSIDE News 1 Opinion 4 Sports 5 Features 7 Bison Tail 10 medication, ther-serious- ly cliche, gets better. Committing suicide wouldn't solve anything. It would pass the grief off to some- one else. It rould pass it off to your family; it would pass it off to your LETTERS TO THE EDITOR DixieSunDixie.edu Jennings room 134 Bonus online content r , "1.71 ,Y 225 S. University Ave. St. George, UT 84770 , 11;11 435-652-78- 'I DixieSunAdsdixie.edu 435-652-78- 18 k. , , - .A , ADVERTISING - -- C Resources: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: -- Health & Counseling -- Center 435-652-775- C4')31' 6. 1037 -- E. 100 S. Dixie Regional Medical Center Call 911. 99 Ir NEWS TIPS AND consider- - mg suicide include apy and support from her family saying goodbye to loved ones, giving and friends to away prized posseseventually cop,- her men- sions, isolation, and tal illness and general sadness. "These signs and suicidal thoughts. symptoms are hard Talking about friends." to read," Matsumori her struggles said. "Hindsight is and becoming 2020. You can see an advocate for Ashley Hansen, them after the fact suicidal aware- Junior biology major when it's too late." ness also helped, from Ogden The best way she said. someone can help Dylan Matsu- another person who mori, a licensed may be struggling psychiatrist and is just to talk, with mental illness director of the DSU Health and thoughts. "You just never know who is Counseling Center, said intelligent Matsumori said. "You can't save them, but if you said. Hansen "Part struggling," people will always consider death want to be helpful, just have that I as an option to escape depression of the reason chose to do Miss Dixie was to show everyone that or anxiety. That doesn't mean they conversation with them," Matsumori said. "When you have these who kill themselves, Matsumori everyday peoplepeople get an wear and on said. people who are highly suicidal, stage evening up "Suicidal thoughts are not a they have this sense that there gown and swimsuitcan also be is nobody there, and they are struggling with anxiety or depresgood predictor of suicidal in- sion." Matsumori said. "If trapped. Just reach out to people." tention," Students can visit the DSU Hansen said there were sevsomeone has those coping mechaHealth and Counseling Center if eral times when her depression nisms, they are able to move past they are struggling with mental illness or suicidal tendencies. A visit with a therapist at the Health and Counseling Center, located at 1035 E. 100 S., costs $10 for T,t; students. A visit with another , therapist in St. George may cost , tte, WO, Matsumori said. ,4 He said the first thing people , . ; , should do if they are scared they 7 commit suicide or if someone may ),)" they know may commit suicide is to get them safe. Instead of talking t I about it or going to a therapist, they should immediately call the police. DSU campus police will freely transport a student to the hospital if that student is having suicidal tendencies, Matsumori Ashley Hansen, a junior biology major from Ogden, shares her struggles with said. depression and suicidal thoughts. To listen to more of Ashley's story and learn "(The Health and Counseling about statistics regarding suicide, watch Multimedia Editor Spencer Ricks' is not a crisis center," Center) video on suicide awareness at dixiesunnews.com. 7.!rwooPr7.iPq)1,f, CONTACT suicidal thoughts. If the coping mechanisms aren't there...then they need to come talk to someone like myself or a therapist." Matsumori said behaviors common in those who may be but it 1380 E. Medical Center Dr. Matsumori said. "If you really think you are going to kill yourself, go to the hospital." The DSU Hope Squad, whose aim is to help prevent suicide among students at DSU, is also starting up again this September, said Student Body President Ezra Hainsworth, a senior communication major from St. George. Hainsworth said the Hope Squad will comprise of students who will be trained with helping their peers dealing with suicidal tendencies. "Most students will feel more comfortable talking with a peer versus an advisor," Hainsworth said. Hainsworth said it's important to have the dialogue of suicidal awareness open at DSU because college can be stressful and isolating for many students. "It sounds cliche, but it get's better," Hansen said. "Committing suicide wouldn't solve anything. It would pass the grief off to someone else. It would pass it off to your family; it would pass it off to your friends." |