What is your message to someone who is thinking about suicide?
I know you are feeling hopeless and helpless right now. You perhaps feel alone and that no one cares. That is understandable when you have been carrying this pain for so long. I want you to know that you are not alone. You are important and valuable, and I care about you. There is a community here that cares about you. Please don’t give up. I believe in you and there are many people on campus who are here to support you.
What would you tell someone who is feeling unsure about seeking support?
We sometimes feel we have nowhere to turn or no one to turn to. Sometimes we think we don’t want to bother anyone or that we can manage on our own. What you are going through is very heavy and you don’t have to do it on your own. No matter who we are, we all need help at some point. Sometimes it is someone to just listen. In my own experience, I have come to realize that seeking help is a sign of strength and resilience. It’s an act of self-care. Let us find you some support. You deserve this.
Why did you want to become a Care Champion?
Suicide to me is a manifestation of pain, despair, and hopelessness. A society that cares about human dignity and the welfare of its people must do everything to care for people. Suicide has devastating impacts on families and communities and we have a moral obligation to do everything to prevent it.
How do you cope when things get tough?
Putting things in perspective is something that I practice deliberately. I have learned that things are rarely as bad as they appear at first to be. In my work and life, I therefore strive to be introspective and reflective and put things in context. That helps to ground me with a focus on not how bad things are but how perhaps how grateful I should be.
What gives you hope?
I truly believe that while there is life there is hope for a better tomorrow. I think you have to work for that better tomorrow, but you have to give yourself a chance. I have learned to acknowledge my mistakes, learn from them, and move on. My personal creed is to be better today than I was yesterday with a commitment to being better tomorrow than I am today. I try to not be too hard on myself. I am committed to giving myself a chance.
Dr. Clinton Beckford (he/him)
Vice-President, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Office of the President