Wednesday, March 28th, 2018:
The UM Counseling and Psychological Services is pleased to announce the newest addition to our do something: Stop Student Suicide Messages of Hope tile display. In collaboration with the Pierpont Commons Board of Representatives and the Stamps School of Art and Design, our third installation is located on North Campus. The unique design of this board highlights the diverse voices of our four North Campus schools/colleges.
Started in 2012, University of Michigan CAPS initiated the "Messages of Hope" project. Included in this project has been the installation of now three Messages of Hope Boards:
- September 15th 2017: CAPS and the Athletic Department unveiled a Messages of Hope Board in the Ross Academic Center for student athletes. Around 100 people attended, including Cathy Radovich, mother of Garrick Roemer, who died by suicide a few years earlier.
- March 2013: CAPS unveiled the first Messages of Hope Board.
We encourage you to fill out a Messages of Hope tile and share what you would say to someone you cared about who was struggling with thoughts of suicide.
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September 15th 2017:
CAPS and the Athletic Department unveiled a Messages of Hope Board in the Ross Academic Center for student athletes. Around 100 people attended, including Cathy Radovich, mother of Garrick Roemer, who died by suicide a few years earlier.
"Garrick liked people to be connected," said his mother, Cathy Radovich. "One of his teammates said he was the glue that connected people. And the people that I've connected with since his death are really because of Garrick. He is bringing me to all of these other people that I'm meeting and helping. So, he's still helping people. But it's just through me. If I can honor him that way, that's what I will do."
CAPS unveiled the first Messages of Hope Board in March 2013. The collaboration between CAPS and the UM Athletic Department is the first to bring an additional Board to campus. UM Athletic Director attended the event and shared these thoughts:
"We often talk about being a family," Manuel said of the athletic department. "And because we are a family, we care. And we have family members in our midst in athletics who need our love and support and who are considering and thinking about suicide more than we know."
Find out more about the event, including an article and video by MGoBlue.
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March 16th 2017:
In a recent Michigan Daily article, "CAPS expands programs, releases new suicide prevention videos," Kaela Theut (Daily Staff Reporter), describes CAPS recent and previous work in suicide prevention at UM.
Theut shared highlights from the new videos released by CAPS, as well as comments from CAPS Coordinator of Suicide Prevention, Jamye Banks Ph.D.
“The videos are part of our larger approach to suicide prevention for our campus,” Banks said. “If a picture is worth 1,000 words, then hopefully a moving picture is worth more. Meaning, we tend to watch videos more than we read emails or websites, etc. Further, the videos capture scenarios that could provide a more realistic view and thus be more relatable and beneficial. We want to provide information and tools for all of us on campus to change the story — for individuals, and for our campus — change the story to one of hope and knowledge.”
Find the full Michigan Daily article (Thursday March 16th) HERE.
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April 2015
University of Michigan Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) encourages UM campus to "go beyond the surface" and engage in a community of caring. This Michigan Daily article from CAPS Director, Todd Sevig, shares the recent suicide prevention work including a video filled with messages from students for students.
Read the Michigan Daily article here.
Find out more about Messages of Hope and other Suicide Prevention efforts here.
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March 28th 2013
Over 100 people converged on the 3rd floor of the Michigan Union to view and write messages of hope for the now permanent display of the messages that have already been created.
Check out the story in the Michigan Daily and please stop by and look at the messages. Take one of the tiles if it speaks to you and if you are so inclined, leave your very own message of hope for the wall and become a part of tthis community of caring.
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September 2009
The American Psychological Association (APA) interviewed CAPS Associate Director for Community Engagement and Outreach, Christine Asidao, and Director, Todd Sevig, in a recent article focused on how colleges and Universities are finding creative ways to provide suicide prevention.
Find the APA article here.
Find out more about what CAPS is doing for suicide prevention here.