Letter to the Editor
Still wanting to get involved on campus and just cannot find anything suitable? The Yellow Ribbon Project may be your ticket. Since the beginning of time, numerous cases of suicide have been reported, causing much grief amongst those affected. Statistics point out that every 17 seconds, someone takes his or her own life. Fortunately, today we have formed a prevention program to assist young people who have undesirable thoughts.
The Yellow Ribbon Project is new to the GC&SU campus and has already taken off throughout the Baldwin County community. Dale and Dar Emme formed the program, in order to prevent teen suicide and depression, after their seventeen-year-old son, Mike, committed suicide in their Colorado home. Since Mike’s death, the Yellow Ribbon Project has touched and saved over 1500 reported lives throughout the world. The program has developed in 47 countries, including the United States, Canada and Australia.
The program’s concept is simple and consists of passing out Ask for Help cards. The card states: THIS CARD IS A LIFELINE! It carries the message that there are those who care and will help. If you are in need and don’t know how to ask for help, take this card to a counselor, teacher, clergy, parent or friend and say: “I NEED TO USE MY YELLOW RIBBON!” The card’s purpose is to aid those who cannot bring themselves to actually ask for help and admit that they are suicidal.
Lyndsey Mims and I coordinated the Yellow Ribbon Project on GC&SU’s
campus. Together, we will be the first official chapter in the state of Georgia. We have also planned an assembly at John Milledge Academy, scheduled for November 7. Hopefully, Baldwin High School and Georgia Military College will also become involved with our efforts to stop the growing trend. We believe that suicide has become a “hush-hush” topic and think that if we present it to the community effectively that the trend will be hindered.
Since November is Suicide Awareness month, we are planning to decorate front campus with yellow ribbons on Nov. 3. Hopefully, the ribbons will create awareness about not only the program itself but the cards as well. Tables will also be set up in order to distribute brochures and literature. We are in need of dedicated volunteers! Our next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 28 at 8 p.m. in the GIVE Center. If anyone is interested in becoming a part of the program, please contact Jessica Howell at the GIVE Center: 445-5700 or by email:
jessa072@hotmail.com. Through your service, we save a life and help youth worldwide.
Jessica Howell
Coordinator of the Yellow Ribbon Project
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Oct 25 2002. Filed under Letters to the Editor.
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