A lighthearted approach to a serious issue attracted attention Tuesday at the University of Kentucky Student Center. Students there participated in the "a pie in the face challenge' for suicide prevention.
Messages written in chalk on the sidewalk leading into UK's Student Center included facts and figures about suicide. On the center patio, whipped cream pies were smashed into students' faces as part of a suicide prevention challenge, similar to the popular ALS ice bucket challenge. Indianapolis freshman Issac Orteez took a pie in the face.
"I did this because two and a half years ago, nearing three, one of my best friends committed suicide. And since then, I've been dealing with depression and have had thoughts of suicide myself. So suicide prevention is a big thing for me," said Orteez.
Orteez believes the 'pie in the face challenge' works because it gets the message across about suicide prevention in a more approachable way.
Michael Sandoval is a student wellness ambassador at UK. Sandoval says his organization has increased its emphasis on suicide prevention. "We've had a lot of focus with like alcohol mainly and then drugs and mental health. But we've started to expand more into mental health and look like depression and suicide as well," said Sandoval.
Three sessions were held Tuesday at UK to offer advice on how to talk to someone who is contemplating suicide.?
