Correction: The name of the communications student Maximus Gastelum was misspelled in an earlier edition of this story. It has since been corrected. City Times regrets the error.
Correction: The name of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention was misnamed in an earlier edition of this story. It has since been corrected. City Times regrets the error.
The Student Health Center of San Diego City College resumed its annual Suicide Prevention Fair following a break that was caused by COVID-19 and the slow return to campus.
Representatives from campus health care organizations as well as from organizations which include Survivors of Suicide Loss (SOSL), the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, San Diego 211, San Diego LGBT Center and the Oasis Clubhouse offered life-affirming services at the Sept. 18 event.
Abby Weisman, a mental health counselor at the Student Health Center, said the prevention fair “is really to raise awareness…(with) the direct or indirect goal of preventing suicide.”
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. It is marked to remember those affected by suicide, spread awareness about suicide prevention and raise hope.
According to a recent report by the County of San Diego, there was a slight increase in confirmed suicide deaths in San Diego County in 2022.
“(Suicide’s) very unique compared to any other type of loss,” said Will Deutschendorf, a facilitator with Survivors of Suicide Loss (SOSL), an organization that provides support groups for those who have lost someone to suicide.
Deutschendorf, who has lost a family member to suicide himself, was speaking to students and staff at the SOSL table.
“I do want to make sure…college-age kids (know) what things to look out for mental illness, and to seek immediate support,” Deutschendorf said. “Make sure you talk to somebody.”
Maximus Gastelun, a communications major, emerged from his classroom into the midst of the fair. Gastelun, who works in the City College Outreach office, appreciated that the fair promoted resources for both students and faculty.
“To have it here on campus where you can … just come out of class and see this going on, I think that’s pretty cool,” Gastelun said.
Other community partners discussed free services that are indirectly related to mental health.
“When we are talking about mental health, sexual health is also part of that conversation,” said Deja Cabrera, a sexual health community engagement manager with the San Diego LGBT Center.
Located in Hillcrest, the San Diego LGBT Center provides free, anonymous HIV and STI testing. It is one of the only organizations in the country to do so, according to Cabrera.
“For us, it’s really important for students to know where they can get free and anonymous HIV and STI testing here in their city, very close to where they go to school,” Cabrera said.
The fair also had a mini horse that students and staff could visit from Heart and Hooves Therapy.
Event organizer Abby Weisman was pleased with the turnout. “This is an effort by the Student Health Center to kind of raise that awareness that suicide is preventable,” Weisman said.
Suicide Lifeline: If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call or text the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or chat online any time of day or night.
