Members of the University of Windsor community are invited to join the UWindsor team participating in this year’s community Suicide Awareness Month Walk, Sunday, Sept. 29, at the St. Clair College SportsPlex. The event is hosted by the Canadian Mental Health Association Windsor-Essex County Branch and community partners.

The UWindsor team will be led by Student Health, Counselling & Wellness Services, the Employee Mental Health Strategy implementation team, and the Human Resources Workplace Wellness team.

“We invite UWindsor students and employees to walk with us in support of suicide awareness,” says Katie Chauvin, mental health and wellness co-ordinator in Student Health, Counselling & Wellness Services. “When someone is experiencing thoughts of suicide or has been impacted by suicide loss, there is often an overwhelming sense of isolation.

“By attending these events as representatives of our campus, we send a powerful message that UWindsor cares and that we believe no one should have to walk their journey alone.”

Raising awareness is just one way to make a difference, says Chauvin.

“At UWindsor, we also offer opportunities throughout the year to attend suicide prevention trainings that teach skills for responding when someone is experiencing thoughts of suicide and strategies for supporting them in accessing professional care. Additionally, we offer free and confidential mental health resources and have a year-round suicide prevention initiative in place called It Matters that You’re Here that promotes mental health and crisis supports, shares messages of care from the campus community, and highlights coping strategies and self-advocacy skills.

“If you are thinking about suicide or going through a difficult time, reaching out for support is the strongest thing you can do,” says Chauvin.

Student mental health resources can be found here. Employee mental health resources can be found here.

Sign up here to join the UWindsor team at the community Suicide Awareness Month Walk.