UVU Review, 2009-09-21

              o , . ' j I VOL XL IX t;O10 f ' s , , ' ' ! ..-9.21.2009," I : . . . j ' i - ! i ' V' V " ' x " i 'U M3" . ' j I .1 : i .. . i- ' -. ., i s I f . , . ! '' . , , i' . . i; 't! i i : r " ' -i": . i :! 1 1-, .'.' ' ; v-. --:,. -1 . i ...! ; i, ' " "' """"" - --y. . . n-- - " eath is the final I equalizing ele-1 ment of human existence. For those whose lives end, the experience is absolute, for those they leave behind, the experience is prolonged and painful especially in the case of suicide. r l! i . u ! " Photo courtsey of MIKE MOON UVU faculty and staff help with painting, landscaping, cleaning, and minor repairs for a day of caring. Faculty and staff engaged in service for Day of Caring SHAYLENE NISTLER News writer 1 200 volunteers assembled beneath BYU's LaVell Edwards Stadium early Sept. 10 for a pancake breakfast to kick off United Way's Day of Caring. Pancake flippers included many local leaders such as LaVell Edwards, Provo and Lindon Mayors Lewis K. Billings and Jim Dain, County Commissioners. BYU President Between 2003 and 2008, 13 UVU students are deceased due to suicide. Others have attempted unsuccessfully. Garrett Lee Smith, who suffered from dyslexia and depression, was one UVU student whose life ended. Following his death, his father, Senator Gordon Smith of t ' of Utdh County Li 7 J I " j r i Voluntem At Work Cecil O. Samuelson and UVU President Matthew Holland. After breakfast, volunteer teams drove to their assigned non-profit service locations throughout Utah County Service included painting, landscaping, cleaning and minor repairs of area homes. UVU faculty and staff were assigned a Provo home in which they assisted an elderly resident with her landscaping by weed- i Oregon, rallied the Senate to pass the "Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act," which allocates federal grant money to institutions of higher education to combat suicide. Since it's passage in 2004, over 125 institutions have been able to fund suicide prevention programs. These preven ing and pruning. "UVU is happy to provide this service to the community," said Mike Moon, program coordinator for Volunteer & Service-Learning at UVU. Volunteers consisted mainly of employees from local companies whose employers encourage involvement in the Day of Caring annually. The Home Depot, Intermoun-tain Healthcare, Lowe's, UVU and BYU staff, Nor tion programs are desperately needed throughout the U.S., specifically in colleges where it is the second leading cause of death. Utah has the seventh highest suicide rate in the nation. Approximately 340 residents die, 1,040 are hospitalized, and 2,650 receive emergency care 1 dstrom, Novell, Nu Skin and Omniture were just a few of the companies represented. Noting the increase in volunteers, Bill Hulterstrom, President and CEO at United Way, said, "I don't think it's a coincidence that when things are tough in the community, more people volunteer than ever before." Volunteering is up 25 percent from last year. each year resulting from attempted suicide. As a result of the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, the suicide prevention program at UVU began two years ago, sponsored by a three-year federal grant. Students can access a mental health therapist though Student Health Services, Hope for the for the future MEGGIE WOODFIELD News editor On Sept. 23, suicide survivor Kevin Hines will be the keynote speaker for Suicide Prevention week, Sept. 21-26. Hines joins the less than two percent of people who have survived jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge and he is the only survivor who is actively spreading a message of hope. "My message is pure and simple, it is one of hope for the present, and hope for the future of those lives struggling with their own mental health," said Hines. Choosing to share his story only after being urged to by both a chaplain and a priest, Hines was initially reluctant. After his first speech to a group of college students, he received 120 letters from audience members thanking him. Six of those letters were from students who felt suicidal, but with help were able to work through their obstacles. Hines, who has had a lifelong battle with Bipolar disorder, encourages everyone with a mental illness to create a treatment plan that works for them. "You just have to wake up and smell which has a therapist on call for emergency situations. "Since this program has begun, the number of students coming in for ser- vices has increased, which is what we want," said J.C. Graham, coordinator of suicide prevention. See SUICIDE A4 present, hope the coffee. If you have a serious brain disease, you have to have a good work ethic and do things that are going to make you get well," Hines said. Hines' daily mental health care schedule includes waking up and going to bed at a consistent time, routine eating patterns, cardiovascular exercise and medications chosen by him and his doctor according to the most advanced treatment available. Yearly, 5.7 million Americans are diagnosed with having Bipolar disorder and 20 million people across See HOPE A4