Charity
September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness of this stigmatized, and often taboo, topic. The purpose of this month is to shift public perception, spread hope and share vital information to people affected by suicide.
One surprising population you may not think is impacted by Suicide are student athletes. Among US college athletes, suicide is now the second leading cause of death after accidents — and rates have doubled from 7.6% to 15.3% over the past 20 years, according to a study published April 4 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
The Hidden Opponent is an organization whose sole purpose is to raise awareness for student-athlete mental health and addresses the sigma within the sports culture. You will hear directly from a UCLA student athlete on how this organization has helped them through their journey.
SITE members are former college athletes and friends/family members of athletes. The current student athletes around this country are our future colleagues in this industry and supporting this group of individuals navigate mental health challenges at a younger age, allows them to thrive as professional adults. We are happy to be able to shed light on this topic as we continue our goal of bringing awareness of organizations that support important missions like mental health.
During the lunch, attendees will have an opportunity to write the UCLA athletes some encouraging words for the school year (note cards will be provided). Some ideas if you wish to donate to include in your note, bring gift cards to Tender Greens, Cava, or Starbucks (all college friendly with healthy food options).
