This document summarizes a student group's mental health awareness campaign about suicide prevention among college students. The group conducted research including surveys and focus groups which found that stigma around mental health needs to be reduced. The campaign included screening a video about suicide and hosting discussions, a visual display about suicide statistics, and an event with personal stories of loss. Surveys found the events educated students and increased awareness of campus resources. The group provided suggestions for future campaigns such as maintaining close partner communication and creating to-do lists.

1. +
Hold Onto Hope
By Nina LoPiccolo, Allie McNamara, & Lauren Stallone

2. +
Purpose

3. +
Purpose
■ Mental health and suicide
are such prevalent topics
within college students but
is one that is rarely talked
about
■ Our goal was to remove
that stigma and raise
awareness about this
growing problem among
college students

4. +
Research

5. +
Background Research
Mental health issues and suicide among college students are
an increasing problem in today’s society
With financial issues, social issues, and intrapersonal issues,
young adults in the college age group are becoming
increasingly stressed leading to mental issues such as
anxiety and depression, which could ultimately lead to
suicide
Some research has been done and what has been discovered
is that many major psychiatric illnesses usually do not
manifest themselves until the late teens or early twenties,
which is usually the college age group

6. +
Quantitative & Qualitative Research
■ Distributed surveys to 50 random students
■ Conducted 3 separate focus groups
■ We found that we need to organize our campaign’s events
around the various busy schedules of our students
■ We need to advertise it correctly
■ Since this topic can be uncomfortable for some people, our
events need to be open and conversational in order for
everyone in attendance to feel comfortable

7. +
Post AFSP Video Survey
■ Over 50 people came to the
first screening during
common hour and over 20
people came to the second
screening in the evening.
■ Surveys indicated that
students were educated by
this screening which is what
our goal and AFSP’s goal was
to do with this video.
■ Audience gained insight from
the discussion more than the
video.

8. +
Survey Results AFSP Video
1. Knowledge after:
14/50 Strongly agree
28/50 Agree
3/50 Neutral
1/50 Disagree
1/50 Strongly disagree
2. Ramapo’s resources:
48/50 Yes
2/50 No
3. Issue at Ramapo:
47/50 Yes
3/50 No
4. Attend future events:
12/50 Strongly agree
31/50 Agree
7/50 Neutral
5. Why attended:
44/50 Interest 6/50 CEC credit

9. +
Post TJ’s Story Survey
■ Over 50 people attended
this event.
■ Surveys indicated that
students were educated
about our campus’
resources

10. +
Activities

11. +
AFSP “The Truth About Suicide” Video
■ First screening: 1 p.m.
■ Second screening: 6 p.m.

12. +
A Helping Hand
■ A visual set up in the
Student Center
■ Cut outs of hands with
Ramapo’s own statistics
from The Counseling
Center
■ 1,100 college students
commit suicide every year.

13. +
Break the Silence Flag Event
■ Started off with 1,100 black flags
■ Outside on the Grove from 11 a.m,- 2 p.m. from Wednesday to
Friday for people to put in their own personal flags
■ The different colors are white which represents the loss of a
child, gold: the loss of a parent, red: the loss of a spouse or
partner, silver: the loss of military or veteran, orange: the loss
of a sibling, purple: the loss of a relative or friend, green: a
personal struggle, and blue: supporting the cause.

14. +

20. +
TJ’s Story
■ Wendy and Steve Sefcik
■ A local family from
Montville, NJ who tours
around all of New Jersey
and neighboring states,
telling the story of their son
TJ’s, suicide

21. +

22. +

23. +
Successes

24. +
Successes
■ Raised over $100 for AFSP through selling bracelets
■ Over 50 students attended our smaller events
■ Over 150 students attended our Break the Silence event

25. +
Suggestions for Future
Campaigns

26. +
Suggestions
■ Constantly keep in contact with
all partners
■ Keep everyone up to date
■ Create a to-do list with
deadlines
■ Get things done ASAP just in
case there are setbacks
■ Keep all e-mails