UWindsor To Launch Ongoing Suicide Prevention Initiative

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The University of Windsor’s will launch its first ongoing suicide prevention initiative to the campus community with a launch breakfast on UWindsor’s Campus Mental Health Day on Tuesday, October 25th.

The It Matters That You’re Here initiative is a campaign to unite students, faculty, and staff in efforts to encourage hope, help-seeking, and healing.

Over the past 18 months, Student Health, Counselling and Wellness Services has been collaborating with campus partners and local film producers to create a powerful suicide prevention outreach video featuring messages of those living with suicidal thoughts.

The video aims to reach those struggling with suicide and other difficult experiences while modelling compassionate language that anyone can adopt when communicating with someone in need of support.

It is rooted in lived expertise, clinical knowledge, and campus needs identified throughout the development and implementation of UWindsor’s Student Mental Health Strategy and takes a multifaceted approach to embedding suicide prevention and mental health promotion into university culture while working to advance the values and commitments of a caring, compassionate, and connected campus community.

“It is our hope that the strong messaging and diversity that is woven into the It Matters That You’re Here initiative will deliver the right words at the right time in a way that resonates with those who need it most,” says Katie Chauvin, Mental Health and Wellness Coordinator in Student Health, Counselling and Wellness Services.

“We want anyone who is living with thoughts of suicide to know that support is available and that there are many people on campus who are holding onto hope for them and who believe they are worth fighting for.”

In addition to the outreach video, the group has developed a new suicide prevention website as a resource to support those looking for help, hope, and healing, as well as an on-campus poster campaign featuring QR codes that can be scanned with camera phones for immediate access to free and confidential mental health services, including 24/7 crisis supports.

Launch breakfast registration is available at: https://uwindsor.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bPbzFUKkVtItz8i