SCCC Students Learn Suicide Prevention

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and Seward County Community College is doing its part to inform its students about the signs and the preventative measures of someone with suicidal tendencies.

Annette Hackbarth-Onson, SCCC dean of student success and enrollment, stressed the role of SCCC to educate and teach students about basic mental health issues.

“I don’t think people (really understand suicide) and that’s what why we educate (about suicide). If they see something they can tell somebody or ask themselves so that we can create greater awareness and better support,” Hackbarth-Onson said.

According to Hackbarth-Onson, the college is a resource where students can get the information or find someone who can help them.

“We want them to know that they can come to us, but we also want students to reach out to each other,” Hackbarth-Onson said. “When someone is having a difficult time there are better days ahead but sometimes people don’t recognize that. When it becomes unmanageable and people feel hopeless and helpless that’s when we want to be there to help support them.”

To help raise awareness for the month, the college set up an informational table on suicide prevention.

“I was really pleased with the turnout,” Hackbarth-Onson said. “It was well-received. The students came to the table and picked up the materials.

“It’s important for all of us to be aware,” she added. “We want our students to be healthy. We want our students to be aware of their friends, neighbors and family members. We want them to have some tools to be able to help if they’re having difficulty or know someone who is having difficulty.”