Hold on to Hope 2017

Hold on to Hope is the theme for this year's National Alliance on Mental Illness On Campus-UL Lafayette (NAMI) event that seeks to dispel the stigma often associated with mental health issues. Suicide claims the lives of 1,100 college students every year. NAMI On Campus is holding its second annual suicide awareness event in the Quad on Monday, Nov. 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This event:

• Raises awareness about suicide on college campuses
• Connects students to needed mental health resources
• Inspires action for suicide prevention

What can you do?

NAMI is collecting 1,100 backpacks to display and symbolize the losses campuses face. Donations of empty backpacks or drawstring bags* should be placed in the donation box in Martin Hall, Rm. 334. After the event, some of the backpacks will be donated to homeless individuals.

*Backpacks and drawstring bags must be empty, please.

Memorialize your loved ones

Anyone who has lost friends or family members to suicide can contact namioncampus@louisiana.edu to honor their loved ones during the event. The suggested sponsorship for a memorial is $10 for faculty and staff and $5 for students. Discounts are available for multiple backpacks. Memorializing an individual will allow you to provide information/pictures to be placed on a backpack. Information may include:

• Photo
• Name
• Brief Biography
• Dates
• Words and thoughts that will honor and respect your loved one

Faculty/Staff: $10 for 1, $15 for 2, $20 for 3 or more

Students: $5 for up to 2, $10 for 3 or more

To memorialize your loved one, email NAMI On Campus at namioncampus@louisiana.edu.

NAMI On Campus is using this event to kick off fundraising for research grants. 50% of all proceeds will go toward sponsored research projects by UL Lafayette undergraduate and graduate students working in the area of mental health.