Last week (Sep. 9-15, 2018) was the first time that Phi Mu Alpha included National Suicide Prevention Week as part of the Fraternity’s ongoing Risk Management Education efforts. We recognize that Phi Mu Alpha and its members are not immune to this growing public health issue and that we have a responsibility to become familiar with the symptoms of suicidal behavior and to promote prevention. The awareness campaign was conducted on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and on Sinfonia.org with the hopes of shedding light on suicide and to educating members on the warning signs.

As part of the awareness campaign, we asked Brothers to write in and share their stories on how suicide has affected their lives. Their story could be about the loss of a friend, a loved one, or a personal struggle. The number of responses and open letters that were sent in was overwhelming, and we couldn’t possibly share them all. The number of responses also revealed that the effects of suicide are far-reaching and that you may never know who is struggling. With that in mind be sure to reach out and remind someone how much they are cared for and that their life is worth living.

Thank you to all the Brothers who wrote in. Your courage and willingness to share your story are very moving. Throughout the week we shared some of these stories in the form of an open letter. Please know that you’ve already saved a life by doing so. 

You can check out some of those stories below.

We each have our own story, and we each have our struggles to deal with, but we also have each other to lean upon for support.

Remember, you are NOT alone.

Call a Brother. Call a Friend. Call a Lifeline

Potential Warning Signs

• Talking about feelings of hopelessness.
• Talking about having no purpose.
• Talking about feeling trapped.
• Talking about unbearable pain.
• Talking about being a burden to others.
• Increased use of alcohol or drugs.
• Acting anxious or agitated.
• Sleeping too little.
• Sleeping too much.
• Withdrawing or feeling isolated.
• Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.
• Displaying extreme mood swings.

What To Do

If someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide:

• Do not leave the person alone.
• Remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs, or sharp objects.
• Call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
• Take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or health professional.