
Community members and students gather Sunday night on World Suicide Prevention Day at Union Square for the Candlelight Vigil to remember the victims of suicide. Hornets for Hope brought awareness to suicide and mental health hoping to start suicide prevention.
Sunday was World Suicide Prevention Day, but Hornets for Hope are continuing to raise awareness this week. Tomorrow, the RSO will have stress- relief activities in Union Square.
A candle vigil was held Sunday night in Union Square to remember victims of suicide and to support students.
“We get a lot of thank yous,” said Melissa Kurtenbach, community adviser for Hornets for Hope. “A lot of students will come up and share their stories with us.”
Kurtenbach started her own non-profit organization, Beacon for Hope, over the summer.
“(The local organization is) raising funds to formally train individuals on campus and in the community for mental health first aid for suicide prevention…and provide scholarships for high school students,” Kurtenbach said.
Zaira Dominguez, secretary for Hornets for Hope and sophomore psychology and sociology major, said that the awareness is important.
“It gets the word out that we (Hornets for Hope) are a support group and help students recognize other resources for suicide prevention,” Dominguez said.
Students that are struggling can reach out to the Student Wellness Center. Students can make an appointment by calling 620-341-5222 or stop by the office, which is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to emporia.edu.