The Article below was published in Vol. 136, Issue 1 of the Lake Forest College Stentor on September 18, 2020.
By: Lake Forest College Health and Wellness Center Staff
This is going to be a rough one.
Take that however you want. Semester? Check. Year? Double check. Election? That, too. Like I said, interpret it as you will. The one thing I think we can ALL agree on is that the next whatever is going to be rough.
But we cannot let the conversation end there. We cannot stop with just how bad it is going to be, tempting though that may be. We have to move to the next sentiment.
This is going to be a rough one…so I have to get as ready as possible.
That means taking care of ourselves. That means taking care of our friends. And it means letting our friends take care of us. For some, it may mean learning how to better manage their time, their stress, their study habits. For others, it may be learning how to connect with others while physically distant, to set boundaries when emotionally close, even HOW to allow oneself to get emotionally close. And for still others, perhaps most of us, the answer is the ever-present D: All of the Above.
For some, it is about honoring September as Suicide Awareness Month. This may mean checking in with your friends, who you know are having or have had a rough time. Maybe it is asking them if they’re thinking of killing themselves. Maybe it’s something as simple as hugging them and telling them you’re glad that they’re a part of your life. For others, it’s about celebrating your own victory over suicidal thoughts. It’s about acknowledging those dark times and being glad they’re past. For still others, you’re in the midst of the dark times. And your need right now isn’t to celebrate, but to reach out and tell someone. Whatever this month may mean to us individually, the unifying message of Suicide Awareness Month is exactly the message we need every September, but specifically the message we want you to know now, September 2020: You are not alone.
You’re worried? You’re not alone.
You’re scared? You’re not alone.
You’ve had thoughts of ending your life? You’re not alone.
You’re not sure how to ask your friend if they’ve been having thoughts of ending their life? You’re not alone.
The value of community is learning that, even as we are geographically distant, even as we are in different cities, states, time zones, nations, and continents, you are not alone.
You are a Forester, wherever you are. You are not alone.
In keeping with this idea of community, the HWC staff would like to remind you of all the ways we can learn to take care of ourselves and others during this unique September 2020:
