Awareness vs Triggering: Suicide Prevention Campaign on Campus
June 7, 2019 11:07 AM Subscribe
The small community college where I work is engaged in a heated discussion about a suicide awareness campaign. Resources/framing advice needed.
The college has an annual "don't let them walk alone" campaign for suicide prevention/awareness week: hundreds of pairs of empty shoes, each representing a college-age person who has committed suicide. Accompanying each pair is a laminated pic identifying by name a real person who took their own life, along with a brief narrative about them, often including how they killed themselves. Most have a picture of the individual. These shoes and their displays are arranged around the central plaza of campus - it's impossible to cross campus without encountering them.
This campaign has been deployed annually for several years, but a growing number of students and faculty are opposed to it. There's a petition going around to either end or dramatically alter it, based on the testimony of many members of the campus community who either find it personally triggering or believe it has a negative impact on others.
An equally vocal group is adamant as to its value and argues strongly that isolating the display hides the reality of suicide among college students. They say we shouldn't sweep it under the rug, that it builds empathy and awareness. I have also listened to members of this group (not the empathy-claimers) state that anyone who finds this too triggering needs to either grow some thicker skin or decide they aren't psychologically/emotionally fit for college at this time. The phrase "buck up buttercup" is a favorite among these.
I am not part of the decision-making admin group for things like this, but several of those people respect and have asked for my input.
Can anyone point me toward something, anything, that clearly states reasons and research on why such displays are problematic? Or at least help me craft a brief, clear statement to that effect?
The college has an annual "don't let them walk alone" campaign for suicide prevention/awareness week: hundreds of pairs of empty shoes, each representing a college-age person who has committed suicide. Accompanying each pair is a laminated pic identifying by name a real person who took their own life, along with a brief narrative about them, often including how they killed themselves. Most have a picture of the individual. These shoes and their displays are arranged around the central plaza of campus - it's impossible to cross campus without encountering them.
This campaign has been deployed annually for several years, but a growing number of students and faculty are opposed to it. There's a petition going around to either end or dramatically alter it, based on the testimony of many members of the campus community who either find it personally triggering or believe it has a negative impact on others.
An equally vocal group is adamant as to its value and argues strongly that isolating the display hides the reality of suicide among college students. They say we shouldn't sweep it under the rug, that it builds empathy and awareness. I have also listened to members of this group (not the empathy-claimers) state that anyone who finds this too triggering needs to either grow some thicker skin or decide they aren't psychologically/emotionally fit for college at this time. The phrase "buck up buttercup" is a favorite among these.
I am not part of the decision-making admin group for things like this, but several of those people respect and have asked for my input.
Can anyone point me toward something, anything, that clearly states reasons and research on why such displays are problematic? Or at least help me craft a brief, clear statement to that effect?
I'm no expert, but having been exposed to suicides in my circle, I came across the Werther Effect. IMHO, the shoe thing sure seems like it could contribute.
posted by j_curiouser at 11:16 AM on June 7, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by j_curiouser at 11:16 AM on June 7, 2019 [4 favorites]
What do the families think of this? I'm going to assume they are OK with it. I get the idea of the campaign, but it somehow makes me feel icky.
And the suck it up buttercup crowd pisses me off.
posted by kathrynm at 11:27 AM on June 7, 2019 [4 favorites]
And the suck it up buttercup crowd pisses me off.
posted by kathrynm at 11:27 AM on June 7, 2019 [4 favorites]
my personal, nonscientific, anecdotal experience is that presenting young people with "here's a bunch of relatable people who killed themselves" leads to young people thinking "maybe killing myself is right for me, too"
my reaction to this campaign is viscerally negative, but that's just me. I hope you can find some objective resources backing that up.
posted by prize bull octorok at 11:31 AM on June 7, 2019 [12 favorites]
my reaction to this campaign is viscerally negative, but that's just me. I hope you can find some objective resources backing that up.
posted by prize bull octorok at 11:31 AM on June 7, 2019 [12 favorites]
I would like, and perhaps you would like, to point out that rigid "buck up buttercup" demands are sometimes a contributor to suicidal feelings.
Empathy needs to come from and get extended towards everyone.
posted by Dashy at 11:33 AM on June 7, 2019 [8 favorites]
Empathy needs to come from and get extended towards everyone.
posted by Dashy at 11:33 AM on June 7, 2019 [8 favorites]
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has some great guidelines for talking about suicide. They’re intended for the media, but I find them helpful elsewhere. There’s a strong argument against discussing methods. Beyond this link there’s lots of great research and resources.
posted by OrangeVelour at 11:56 AM on June 7, 2019 [8 favorites]
posted by OrangeVelour at 11:56 AM on June 7, 2019 [8 favorites]
Does this have to be an all-or-nothing choice? Can the memorial/display be updated to follow recommendations from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's guidelines (which includes things like "do not provide details about means of death") and perhaps moved to a more optional-viewing location?
Memorials and recognition that real people do die by suicide, if paired with information about how to get help and reminders that deaths by suicide are often preventable, can be beneficial. Merely emphasizing the number of people who die by suicide and talking about means of death is almost certainly distressing at best and dangerous at worst, though.
posted by Kpele at 11:57 AM on June 7, 2019 [4 favorites]
Memorials and recognition that real people do die by suicide, if paired with information about how to get help and reminders that deaths by suicide are often preventable, can be beneficial. Merely emphasizing the number of people who die by suicide and talking about means of death is almost certainly distressing at best and dangerous at worst, though.
posted by Kpele at 11:57 AM on June 7, 2019 [4 favorites]
On the other hand, lazy casual use of "triggering" is not helpful. People who have experienced a spike in suicidal ideation confronted by the display have good and relevant experience to bring to the table. People who just find it kind of upsetting? Less so. (I don't know what's going on in your specific case, but, in my experience, there are a fair number of young people who do abuse the useful and necessary concept of a trigger, because it's so easy--just say something is "triggering" for you, without thinking too hard about what you mean by that beyond that it makes you feel bad, and you have the permanent upper moral hand and there's no need to balance competing concerns.)
Here's a link to a study about best practices in suicide-prevention campaigns. I think you'd want to look at this kind of literature in evaluating your specific campaign.
posted by praemunire at 12:00 PM on June 7, 2019 [6 favorites]
Here's a link to a study about best practices in suicide-prevention campaigns. I think you'd want to look at this kind of literature in evaluating your specific campaign.
posted by praemunire at 12:00 PM on June 7, 2019 [6 favorites]
I have also listened to members of this group (not the empathy-claimers) state that anyone who finds this too triggering needs to either grow some thicker skin or decide they aren't psychologically/emotionally fit for college at this time.
Has anyone asked these people what the exact experience of "finding this too triggering and deciding that I am not emotionally/psychologically fit to be here" is supposed to be like? What are the positive results that might occur, and is the campaign providing resources to make them more likely? Because the obvious negative results are having people continue that thought with "therefore killing myself is a good option".
posted by the agents of KAOS at 12:13 PM on June 7, 2019 [1 favorite]
Has anyone asked these people what the exact experience of "finding this too triggering and deciding that I am not emotionally/psychologically fit to be here" is supposed to be like? What are the positive results that might occur, and is the campaign providing resources to make them more likely? Because the obvious negative results are having people continue that thought with "therefore killing myself is a good option".
posted by the agents of KAOS at 12:13 PM on June 7, 2019 [1 favorite]
Minor thing that’s pointed out in one of the media documents:
Do not use the word “committed”; instead, use “died by suicide” or “took his/her life”
This is important enough to work with experts instead of (what sounds like) non-experts arguing non-expertly. Or if experts have been involved, an open dialogue should take place including experts in suicide prevention at every step.
posted by supercres at 1:15 PM on June 7, 2019 [9 favorites]
Do not use the word “committed”; instead, use “died by suicide” or “took his/her life”
This is important enough to work with experts instead of (what sounds like) non-experts arguing non-expertly. Or if experts have been involved, an open dialogue should take place including experts in suicide prevention at every step.
posted by supercres at 1:15 PM on June 7, 2019 [9 favorites]
I think the biggest thing is addressing it, however messy or imperfect it can be. Giving people a space to share, etc. So much of the suicide prevention stuff is well-intentioned but ultimately ineffective, sadly. It's really about destigmatizing mental illness, making sure resources are available, and encouraging people to be honest with each other and reach out for help. I've dealt with suicide so much lately, and it's awful so my heart goes out to you. It's a huge challenge balancing awareness and safety with an increased risk. As others have said, its roots are psychological but also sociological.
The biggest question to ask someone is "Have you thought about hurting yourself? Have you considered suicide?" That's what I've learned to ask and, if they say yes, I physically go with them to a counselor/emergency room/etc. First responders like police should also be trained how to deal with people who are suicidal because it goes against their usual aggressive approach.
Good luck! Again, the big thing is acknowledging it and trying, and not sweeping it under the rug because that is much worse. People are suffering in silence, whether or not you address it, and for the people at increased danger, there are also others reaching out for help thanks to the light shed on it. You're on the right path!
posted by smorgasbord at 1:30 PM on June 7, 2019 [2 favorites]
The biggest question to ask someone is "Have you thought about hurting yourself? Have you considered suicide?" That's what I've learned to ask and, if they say yes, I physically go with them to a counselor/emergency room/etc. First responders like police should also be trained how to deal with people who are suicidal because it goes against their usual aggressive approach.
Good luck! Again, the big thing is acknowledging it and trying, and not sweeping it under the rug because that is much worse. People are suffering in silence, whether or not you address it, and for the people at increased danger, there are also others reaching out for help thanks to the light shed on it. You're on the right path!
posted by smorgasbord at 1:30 PM on June 7, 2019 [2 favorites]
Nthing the idea to talk to people who are experts in this. (I'm a mental health professional and I'm deeeeeeeply uncomfortable with both the activity you describe and with the conversation you describe happening about it.) There are also great lay-level suicide-prevention trainings (like QPR) that the campus may want to incorporate into whatever they decide to do.
posted by lazuli at 1:37 PM on June 7, 2019 [8 favorites]
posted by lazuli at 1:37 PM on June 7, 2019 [8 favorites]
I have struggled with suicidality and am part of a high-risk community where that's very common. Nthing that this sounds useless at best, and adding that if your college is not incredibly stellar at supporting neurodiverse, trans, and non-binary people, which I doubt, then I really loathe it a lot.
If your college is using the names and images of students who killed themselves, and whose mental illness was linked to trauma and marginalization, and doing absolutely nothing to help living students in those communities, I wish your college were burnt to the ground and the earth salted. The notion of some fucking piece of shit publicly using the name and circumstances of death of an enby I knew for a stunt like this would outweigh any respect I had for their organization by an enormous margin.
posted by bagel at 1:50 PM on June 7, 2019 [13 favorites]
If your college is using the names and images of students who killed themselves, and whose mental illness was linked to trauma and marginalization, and doing absolutely nothing to help living students in those communities, I wish your college were burnt to the ground and the earth salted. The notion of some fucking piece of shit publicly using the name and circumstances of death of an enby I knew for a stunt like this would outweigh any respect I had for their organization by an enormous margin.
posted by bagel at 1:50 PM on June 7, 2019 [13 favorites]
I work with at risk students. A memorial like this, including details of how the student took their life would be a big no-no, precisely because it prioritises death above life and describes successful suicides.
An alternative could be a display of shoes and details of students who had sought help and went on to find some joy in life, inlcluding what sort of help they sought, how it helped, and how glad they are now to be alive.
posted by Thella at 5:09 PM on June 7, 2019 [13 favorites]
An alternative could be a display of shoes and details of students who had sought help and went on to find some joy in life, inlcluding what sort of help they sought, how it helped, and how glad they are now to be alive.
posted by Thella at 5:09 PM on June 7, 2019 [13 favorites]
Recommendations for Reporting on Suicide: "Risk of additional suicides increases when the story explicitly describes the suicide method, uses dramatic/graphic headlines or images, and repeated/extensive coverage sensationalizes or glamorizes a death."
This display you've described seems to check the boxes for describing the method and using dramatic imagery. There's an argument for checking the box for repetition as well, though it's not one person's story over-and-over, it's many many people's stories.
And, I have to ask, is this campaign doing anything besides "raising awareness" that sometimes college students kill themselves? Anything actually useful?** Because if that's all you're getting out of the cheap shock visuals then it's absolutely not worth it.
* If your school doesn't currently have an excellent system for supporting students who have mental health issues some of those emotions are going to be Seething Anger, Irritation, Frustration and Despair.
** Does each display include contact information and details on available mental health resources? Information about academic accommodations available to students experiencing mental health problems? Information about the emotional, mental & physical symptoms of Depression? Information about warning signs for suicide? Information about what people should do (and not do) if they're worried about someone they know? Information about resources for marginalized students (LGBTQ+, racialized, disabled, etc)?
posted by Secret Sparrow at 6:32 PM on June 7, 2019 [5 favorites]
This display you've described seems to check the boxes for describing the method and using dramatic imagery. There's an argument for checking the box for repetition as well, though it's not one person's story over-and-over, it's many many people's stories.
These shoes and their displays are arranged around the central plaza of campus - it's impossible to cross campus without encountering them.And yeah, that's a problem. There are absolutely going to be students at your school who are going to miss class rather than have to walk through all of that, students who are going to have their day or week upended because of the emotions it stirs up*, or worse. And in theory those are the students who that display is meant to help. Who is more important to the organizers in this scenario? Mentally healthy students who aren't aware that suicide is an issue? Or students who are living with suicidal ideation?
And, I have to ask, is this campaign doing anything besides "raising awareness" that sometimes college students kill themselves? Anything actually useful?** Because if that's all you're getting out of the cheap shock visuals then it's absolutely not worth it.
* If your school doesn't currently have an excellent system for supporting students who have mental health issues some of those emotions are going to be Seething Anger, Irritation, Frustration and Despair.
** Does each display include contact information and details on available mental health resources? Information about academic accommodations available to students experiencing mental health problems? Information about the emotional, mental & physical symptoms of Depression? Information about warning signs for suicide? Information about what people should do (and not do) if they're worried about someone they know? Information about resources for marginalized students (LGBTQ+, racialized, disabled, etc)?
posted by Secret Sparrow at 6:32 PM on June 7, 2019 [5 favorites]
Best answer: The question is, who is this display meant to benefit, ultimately? Right now, it seems like the focus is on benefiting people who don't have great awareness around mental health, at the direct expense of people currently experiencing mental health issues, particularly those at potential risk of suicide. The "buttercup" comments are the clearest demonstration of that: if the commenters care so little about how the display affects people who are struggling with their mental health, what exactly do they think is the point of the display, and why do they care about it at all?
posted by quacks like a duck at 10:55 PM on June 7, 2019 [10 favorites]
posted by quacks like a duck at 10:55 PM on June 7, 2019 [10 favorites]
I was very recently very suicidal and was close to making an attempt. It was in response to the fallout of a major political event: I noticed that people only really seemed to care and take action when someone dies, and all my activism thus far seems to have hit a wall, what else do I have left?
I got talked out of it, thankfully. But your event seems like it would reinforce my logic - people only give a shit about me when I'm dead.
Use the money you'd spend on those shoes towards providing actual mental health services.
posted by divabat at 1:34 AM on June 8, 2019 [7 favorites]
I got talked out of it, thankfully. But your event seems like it would reinforce my logic - people only give a shit about me when I'm dead.
Use the money you'd spend on those shoes towards providing actual mental health services.
posted by divabat at 1:34 AM on June 8, 2019 [7 favorites]
Nthing that this is a serious issue and you should be consulting with experts.
I have enough training regarding mental health issues to be very concerned about the event you describe. As in, while reading your description, my eyes got wider and wider and I blurted out "holy shit" without meaning to.
Talk to experts. You wouldn't run a fire safety campaign without talking to firefighters, after all.
posted by meese at 8:53 AM on June 8, 2019 [3 favorites]
I have enough training regarding mental health issues to be very concerned about the event you describe. As in, while reading your description, my eyes got wider and wider and I blurted out "holy shit" without meaning to.
Talk to experts. You wouldn't run a fire safety campaign without talking to firefighters, after all.
posted by meese at 8:53 AM on June 8, 2019 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Sorry, I forgot perhaps the most important part of my answer.
You may get some success by framing this as a liability issue. Concerns have been raised by some faculty and students that this event could lead to someone's death. Is your college really comfortable continuing with an activity that could very well be a contributing factor to someone's death without consulting with experts about best practices?
posted by meese at 9:02 AM on June 8, 2019 [6 favorites]
You may get some success by framing this as a liability issue. Concerns have been raised by some faculty and students that this event could lead to someone's death. Is your college really comfortable continuing with an activity that could very well be a contributing factor to someone's death without consulting with experts about best practices?
posted by meese at 9:02 AM on June 8, 2019 [6 favorites]
Is your college really comfortable continuing with an activity that could very well be a contributing factor to someone's death without consulting with experts about best practices?
I've seen first hand the impact of absent campus mental health support and inept or harmful campus mental health "awareness raising" initiatives that prioritized the mentally healthy over the mentally ill. Someone I know was pushed not just to the point of self-harm but to the point that he was fantasizing about hurting the school administration and the students who were organizing the campaign. So yeah, not to be overly dark, but the concern shouldn't just be "What if we create a situation that contributes to a student hurting or killing themselves?" it should also be "What if we create a situation that contributes to a student hurting or killing themselves and maybe others?".
posted by Secret Sparrow at 7:05 PM on June 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
I've seen first hand the impact of absent campus mental health support and inept or harmful campus mental health "awareness raising" initiatives that prioritized the mentally healthy over the mentally ill. Someone I know was pushed not just to the point of self-harm but to the point that he was fantasizing about hurting the school administration and the students who were organizing the campaign. So yeah, not to be overly dark, but the concern shouldn't just be "What if we create a situation that contributes to a student hurting or killing themselves?" it should also be "What if we create a situation that contributes to a student hurting or killing themselves and maybe others?".
posted by Secret Sparrow at 7:05 PM on June 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
I think the shoes are too triggering, especially since students wouldn't be able to walk across campus without avoiding them.
It's not clear from your post whether or not particular students have been affected by suicide at that college, or if the event is simply about raising awareness of college suicides in general. If the former, some grief counselors would be a good idea, because these are their classmates you're talking about.
All in all, I'd rather see colleges address this issue by creating a robust mental health program than by doing events like this.
posted by coffeeand at 5:54 AM on June 10, 2019
It's not clear from your post whether or not particular students have been affected by suicide at that college, or if the event is simply about raising awareness of college suicides in general. If the former, some grief counselors would be a good idea, because these are their classmates you're talking about.
All in all, I'd rather see colleges address this issue by creating a robust mental health program than by doing events like this.
posted by coffeeand at 5:54 AM on June 10, 2019
Response by poster: Thank you all for your input, both by way of links and your own thoughts and experiences. I truly appreciate it. I want to mark all as best answers.
A couple of clarifying notes:
+ The stories attached to each pair of shoes were both contributed by current students and gathered from web-based sources, though the provenance of each is not clear. Pretty sure there's no database documenting sources.
+ Our college does have a mental health counselor on staff, and many faculty/staff are trained in referral procedures, though that is a department-level decision, I believe.
+ The current counselor is leaving soon; her predecessor had apparently been consulted before this annual display was designed and installed.
+ I do not know what the trend is among our students with respect to suicides or attempts. We do not have on-campus housing and a large number of our students are younger nontrads who live in town, rather than the apartments adjacent to campus.
+ The petition making the rounds was started without anyone involved contacting the department that installs the display and coordinates other suicide prevention-themed events that week and throughout the year. One of those in charge of the campaign told me she had not been contacted by any faculty or staff member to request changes to the form and content of the display. (And in fact she found out about the petition because she was accidentally included on a distribution list. So there's a culture thing going on there.) She also noted that she'd be open to reshaping it based on expert advice.
So maybe a well-mediated conversation, guided by more-or-less disinterested party, with off-campus expert in the room, would be an ideal next step.
Even so, sadly, I think the legal angles - liability; who gave us permission to use these stories? - are going to be the best way to get things changed.
The larger problem remains the bizarre notion that people at risk of self-harm must either accept whatever campaign others think is best *or* they are too weak for college.
posted by Caxton1476 at 1:16 PM on June 10, 2019 [1 favorite]
A couple of clarifying notes:
+ The stories attached to each pair of shoes were both contributed by current students and gathered from web-based sources, though the provenance of each is not clear. Pretty sure there's no database documenting sources.
+ Our college does have a mental health counselor on staff, and many faculty/staff are trained in referral procedures, though that is a department-level decision, I believe.
+ The current counselor is leaving soon; her predecessor had apparently been consulted before this annual display was designed and installed.
+ I do not know what the trend is among our students with respect to suicides or attempts. We do not have on-campus housing and a large number of our students are younger nontrads who live in town, rather than the apartments adjacent to campus.
+ The petition making the rounds was started without anyone involved contacting the department that installs the display and coordinates other suicide prevention-themed events that week and throughout the year. One of those in charge of the campaign told me she had not been contacted by any faculty or staff member to request changes to the form and content of the display. (And in fact she found out about the petition because she was accidentally included on a distribution list. So there's a culture thing going on there.) She also noted that she'd be open to reshaping it based on expert advice.
So maybe a well-mediated conversation, guided by more-or-less disinterested party, with off-campus expert in the room, would be an ideal next step.
Even so, sadly, I think the legal angles - liability; who gave us permission to use these stories? - are going to be the best way to get things changed.
The larger problem remains the bizarre notion that people at risk of self-harm must either accept whatever campaign others think is best *or* they are too weak for college.
posted by Caxton1476 at 1:16 PM on June 10, 2019 [1 favorite]
Does your campus have any peer-run mental health centers, or are there any in nearby towns/cities? It would be good to get perspectives in the discussion from people affected by suicidal ideation, too, if you can.
posted by lazuli at 6:46 AM on June 11, 2019
posted by lazuli at 6:46 AM on June 11, 2019
The larger problem remains the bizarre notion that people at risk of self-harm must either accept whatever campaign others think is best *or* they are too weak for college.
This is bullying.
posted by Thella at 1:01 AM on June 12, 2019
This is bullying.
posted by Thella at 1:01 AM on June 12, 2019
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posted by cotton dress sock at 11:14 AM on June 7, 2019 [13 favorites]