Yellow Ribbon Project gains recognition

Georgia College & State University’s Yellow Ribbon Project gains recognition on campus during November’s Suicide Awareness Month.

Jessica Howell and Lyndsey Mims have started the first official chapter of the Yellow Ribbon Project at GC&SU. Different chapters of the project have been started in 47 countries across the world, but this is the first one in the state of Georgia. The Yellow Ribbon Project has one goal: To help stop teenage suicide and depression. The program consists of passing out “Ask for Help” cards. The card is designed to help someone who cannot ask for help and admit they might be suicidal. Individuals feeling lost can give it to a counselor, teacher, clergy, parent or friend. It gives a toll free number for a suicide hotline.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year-olds. More people in this age group die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza and chronic lung disease combined. On an average day, approximately 84 people commit suicide, and over 1,900 attempt it.

The project hits close to home for organizers Howell and Mims. This past August Dusty Wood, Mim’s boyfriend, committed suicide.

“Someone very close to me that I dated for four years committed suicide,” said Mims. “I want people to learn about the awareness of suicide.”

Howell, Mims’ best friend, was also affected by the tragedy.

“This August, my best friend Lyndsey’s boyfriend committed suicide. I knew Dusty, but not nearly as well as Lyndsey did. Trying to help Lyndsey deal with the grief was incredible and made me realize that I could make a difference in the community through this project,” Howell said.

Howell already worked for the Give Center and thought the project would be a good outlet for their grief.

“I work in the GIVE Center and knew that the Yellow Ribbon Project would be my new area of interest. Lyndsey and I have an advantage: she was directly affected, and I was indirectly affected,” Howell said.
“When someone kills himself, they do not consider the numerous lives that are affected; suicide touches so many lives, and I do not think that they really consider how many people will be devastated.”

This is also a subject that has affected the GC&SU campus in the last few years.

“I never realized how many people have been affected by suicide. Since Dusty’s death, we have had numerous people approach us and tell us of their experiences,” Howell said. “I hope that by becoming so avidly involved in this project, that the program could save a life. I do not think that anyone should get so depressed that they think death is the only way out. GC&SU’s campus was affected last year, so we obviously have a trend here too. I just hope that it will not happen again this year.”

Suicide is difficult to predict; therefore, preventive interventions focus on reducing risk factors and raise awareness. Howell and Mims have planned several activities to highlight the project during Suicide Awareness Month.

“We’re going to John Milledge Academy to speak about depression and how suicide affects the people close to the victims,” said Mims.

They are decorating campus with yellow ribbons on Nov. 3, and a table will be set up to distribute brochures and literature. There is also an assembly planned for Nov. 7 at John Milledge Academy.

“At John Milledge, Lyndsey and I will be talking about why we got involved and how the project got started in Colorado,” Howell said. “We have ordered an eight-minute video from the foundation that we will also show. I am going to read a poem that I wrote; Lyndsey will talk about Dusty. (He went to John Milledge and graduated in 2000). Dr. Amsteader, a local psychiatrist, will be discussing the warning signs of depression. Our main goal is to pass out the Yellow Ribbon cards, so that we can create an awareness in the community.”

Howell sees the Yellow Ribbon Project as an outlet for her to help people who may be considering suicide.

“I want them to realize that there are people out there who genuinely care about them. No matter how tough life may seem at the time, there is help and doctors to help you,” she said. “Hopefully by passing out the Yellow Ribbon cards, people will find it easier to ask for help.”

For more information on the Yellow Ribbon Project, contact Jessica Howell at the Give Center, 445-5700 or email at jessa072@hotmail.com.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Oct 30 2002. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry