OPINION & EDITORIAL
Appreciation and gratitude to organizations that offer support
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by Badger Herald Editorial Board
Tuesday, April 6, 2004
Kurt Cobain, lead singer and songwriter of the alterative rock band Nirvana, took his own life 10 years ago Monday. Cobain’s songs, heavy with angst and anguish, struck a chord with a nation of disenchanted youth. Full of overwhelming adulation, Cobain almost unfairly had the title of “spokesman for a generation” thrust upon him. Constant media attention followed, and, coupled with the physical ailments that Cobain suffered throughout his life, the musician was carried to the depths of depression, drug addiction and ultimately suicide.
In the past decade, Americans as a whole have become more conscious of the mental and physical pressures that can affect both youths and adults. Suicide awareness has grown considerably over that time in conjunction with the spotlight Cobain’s death brought to the issue. Numerous organizations have been founded in commitment to educating people about the issue of suicide and its causes. Many universities, including this one, offer suicide-counseling services for students. We applaud the various organizations that have committed themselves to finding ways to educate people about suicide and have made efforts to end the problem.
The Mental Health Center of Dane County has offered youth crisis services for more than a decade. The organization primarily monitors the need for involuntary hospitalizations, but sees a relatively constant flow of troubled youths in need of counseling for suicide contemplation. Similar services are provided for adults facing mental disorders and substance abuse problems that often fuel the idea of suicide. The center also offers a 24-hour suicide hotline at (608) 208-2600.
Similarly, Helping Others Prevent and Educate about Suicide (HOPES), a Madison non-profit organization, has held an annual walk for suicide awareness for the past five years. The organization is committed to educating and informing both the youths and adults of Wisconsin about the particulars of suicide. HOPES’ sixth-annual Walk for Awareness will take place May 8, 2004. More information about the Walk for Awareness can be found on their website, www.hopes-wi.org.
The University of Wisconsin Health Services offers counseling to all members of the UW-Madison community. In wake of the events of the previous week, staff in the Offices of the Dean of Students are available by phone to coordinate support and connect students in crisis to resources, both on and off campus.
We applaud the efforts of these organizations that no doubt work tirelessly to educate and inform people about suicide in efforts to end a very preventable problem.
