Behind car accidents, suicide is the second leading cause of death for college aged students, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.  

For many, adjusting to the new environment, responsibilities and academic pressures of college can be overwhelming. This may lead to larger mental health concerns. 

Freshman Olivia Frames stressed the importance of speaking out on suicide awareness.  

“Suicide alone isn’t a mental illness, it is a side effect of a mental illness,” Frames said.  

After losing her father to suicide at six years old, Frames has made an effort to speak out on the issue.  

“Anything can happen, and that’s why I feel like these resources should be talked about more and people should be educated more about these mental illnesses,” Frames said.  

Although more women reportedly suffer depression every year than men, suicide is ranked as a leading cause of death among men in America, according to the Sage Neuroscience Center.  

“As a man there are so many stigmas around mental health. We are looked at as the anchors of the family and are often depicted in ways that a man showing emotion of any kind as weak,” WKU alum Wesley Williams said. 

WKU alum Madeline Williams explained another misconception being the idea that one treatment type can work for all individuals. 

“A common misconception around mental health and suicide awareness is that there is a one size fits all solution,” Williams said. 

At 11 years old, sophomore Kelsie Mieczkowski started her struggle with mental health.  

“Suffering from it myself it’s easier to understand someone else who is mentally down or suicidal,” Mieczkowski said. “People make mental health out to be a bad thing like something is wrong with you, but It’s important to reach out because you never know how deep and dark you will get in your mental health.”  

The stigma behind reaching out about mental health comes from lack of understanding, according to the American Psychiatric Association. Some may face the fear that struggles with mental health come with a negative connotation. 

“People are usually never ridiculed for taking a sick day, but if the case happens to be that they’re struggling with their mental health, the expectation is then different,” Gabe Heckerman, a senior biology major and campus chair for the WKU American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, said. 

Those with mental illness may wait to seek treatment due to a variety of factors, such as societal pressure, lack of time or high costs. 

WKU has many resources on campus such as free counseling for students to assess, treat, and intervene when needed. They also offer a “Question, Persuade, Refer” (QPR) training which helps people understand suicide, so they feel more comfortable knowing steps to take to discourage someone from an attempt.  

“Raising awareness for suicide has become a passion of mine because it has directly affected myself and those I love. To me, this is a personal fight against the suicide epidemic,” Heckerman said. “There is always someone willing and ready to listen to your story. If you are unsure who that person is, then seek out resources like the counseling center on campus.”  

He said the 988 hotline is also an option for those that are struggling, and that raising awareness for suicide prevention is essential. 

“Raising awareness, spreading word of resources, and simply being a kind and compassionate peer can go a long way in making a difference.” Heckerman said. 

News reporter Emmy Roth can be reached at emily.roth843@topper.wku.edu.

However, there are also some noises that can help you maintain hyper-focus, relax and turn off those thoughts, depending on your situation. 

White noise, brown noise and pink noises are just a few out of a long list. Here are some of the benefits of each type of noise. 

White noise

White noise sounds like a radio tuned into an unused channel. Some people compare it to the hum of a traditional fan. Regardless of how one may describe it, white noise has been effective in improving sleep quality. The buzzing sound of a radio can actually take us into a trance of focus and peace. 

How does this work?

Essentially, white noise helps us obtain environmental comfort that may not be found under certain circumstances like ongoing construction and the chatter of students on their way to class. This type of noise can be used for taking a nap or getting some deep sleep. 

Moreover, white noise covers the frequencies of sound across the spectrum. Think of it loosely in terms of wavelength. The white color covers all wavelengths of light. Similarly, white noise covers all frequencies of sound. 

Changes in sound frequency can cause you to wake up. Luckily, any change in frequency sound while you are sleeping will be blanketed by the white noise. Hence, you can continue getting sleep without waking up. 

Of course, make sure your alarm is louder than your white noise player because it may be difficult to acknowledge the alarm amidst the all-frequency encompassing white noise. 

Pink noise

Another type of noise is pink noise. This has been proven to show positive improvement in work performance. This entails a higher efficiency in doing a task. Pink noise sounds approximately like a medium rainfall or the gush of a close by river stream.

Brown noise

Brown noise sounds soothing and relaxing, much like sitting in an airplane where you can hear the plane fly. It has a much deeper sound than pink and white noise.

Brown noise is also gaining popularity among people suffering from ADHD. It has the potential to turn off your endless thoughts by helping you drown out the background noise. 

It is important to note that participants of one study did report disturbance, specifically from brown noise. Hence, be careful from listening to the colorful noises at uncomfortable levels of volume. It is important to maintain balance in everything that you do.

Another thing to note is that the descriptions of the sound will vary from person to person, but essentially, at some level, they all sound like a running fan or rushing stream of water, with subtle differences in frequency. 

At the end of the day, no research is available to prove that a specific type of sound is better than the rest because each frequency can stimulate the brain in different ways. Hence, choose the sound that gives you the most comfort.

I hope this helps you get more restful sleep or even a new way to focus during your next study session. 

Vidhi Parekh: Commentary writer Vidhi Parekh can be reached at vidhi.parekh134@topper.wku.edu.

Dr. Karl Laves, associate director at the counseling center, shared his insights into meditation and the usefulness it can provide to people. 

“The purpose of meditation is to become aware of one’s thought process, and essentially slow down one’s thinking until one is not thinking,” Laves said. “Most people, if they’re teaching you to meditate or providing guidance, will talk a lot about the absence of distraction. Although, ironically, once one has practiced meditation, you get better at not being distracted, but for most people, in the beginning, you need a quiet place free of activity [and] noise.”

Laves said that by meditating, you can separate yourself from the stressors in life, reaching a state of peacefulness by distancing yourself from typical moment-to-moment thinking. 

Meditation can be done anywhere, free of charge. Instead of spending money to change how you feel, meditation can remind oneself that they are ultimately in control.

“For many people, when they’re meditating, they just focus on the idea that, no matter how bad life is, life is good,” Laves said. “And that you don’t have to keep up with the Joneses, and you really don’t have to give a crap about what somebody just posted on social media…you get rid of the idea that life is a competition.”

Here are four places around campus that can facilitate meditation:

South Lawn 

While students commonly use South Lawn for athletic activities, it also serves as a prime location for students to stretch out and unwind under the sky.

However, this location is highly dependent on time of day. Should one decide to try and meditate when the lawn is crowded for an event, meditation can be next to impossible. 

The Colonnade

Already used by students for homework and meeting with friends, the Colonnade, located behind the Ivan Wilson Center for Fine Arts, offers a calming presence near the top of the hill. 

Its location next to the Commons at Helm Library provides convenience to students should they need a bite to eat or some extra energy from Spencer’s Coffee. 

Additionally, the nearby fountain provides a naturally calming sound that can help students rest and clear their minds. 

The Kissing Bridge

An idyllic spot for couples and for taking pictures, the bridge behind Van Meter Hall, colloquially known as the “Kissing Bridge”, is another good spot for meditation.

Located away from most pathways, the bridge provides a bit of isolation that helps with meditation. Although, depending on time of day, distant sounds of construction may be more present than desired. 

Regardless, the Kissing Bridge remains a popular attraction and can be a place to rest and recuperate after a long week of classes.

Van Meter Hall

While it is a trek from most places on campus, the view from the steps at Van Meter Hall can help with the meditative process of reflection. 

Looking out in the distance at the Alumni Center and downtown Bowling Green can provide clarity for students who are seeking composure and allow them to reflect on their experience on the Hill so far, preparing them for the weeks, months or years to follow.

News reporter Damon Stone can be reached at damon.stone314@topper.wku.edu.

Gregory got the opportunity to participate in a weeklong research workshop  that was hosted by the University of Groningen. The workshop involved her working with 113 Suicide Prevention, the national Dutch suicide prevention center.

“I found out about this internship through my research and academic mentor, Dr. Amy Brausch within the Psychological Sciences department,” Gregory said in an email interview. “Brausch received an invitation to have select students under her supervision apply.”

Gregory is in her second year in the Psychological Science program. She has been working with Brausch about suicide prevention research for over four years. 

“I have worked with Caitlin since she was a sophomore undergraduate student and met with me to ask about joining my research lab,” Brausch said. “She is a first-generation college student, and always very excited and enthusiastic to learn everything she could about suicide prevention.”

Gregory took an immediate interest in Brausch’s research suicide, self-harm, and risky behaviors among adolescents and college students. Gregory assisted Brausch with multiple research projects to track mental health and self-harm over time.

Gregory also completed an independent project on the role of family support and self-compassion in suicide thoughts and feelings in college students. 

“Throughout my life I have dealt with these topics with friends, family, and myself,” Gregory said. “Researching suicidal thoughts and behaviors, non-suicidal self-injury, and various risky behaviors have allowed me to find the exact route I always wanted in life.”

Gregory was able to receive funding from the Department of Psychological Sciences for most of her expenses. 

With the workshop Gregory was able to attend lectures and learn from various experts within the field of suicidology. 

She was also able to hear renowned suicidologists – one who transmits, shares, or uses their understanding of suicidal phenomena for the common good- such as Dr. Rory O’Connor, Dr. Jo Robinson, Dr. Robert Vermeiren, and many more, speak about their work.

“We attended lectures by local 113 Suicide Prevention Center employees, who worked within the legal defense team, web developers, programmers, crisis advocates, and ambassadors,” Gregory said. “We toured the site to understand further the Netherlands’ approach to telehealth through their suicide crisis hotline, which was incredible to me as I have worked previously as a crisis advocate via telehealth.”

Brausch encourages her students to apply for opportunities like the one Gregory was able to attend for multiple reasons. 

“If I have funds available to support students for conferences or international experiences, I encourage them to take advantage!,” Brausch said. “Also, attending workshops on topics like suicide prevention in other countries exposes students to different points of view, different approaches to suicide prevention, and they meet others interested in suicide prevention from so many different countries.”

Gregory described the suicide prevention center as ‘Incredibly colorful, fun, and light-hearted!’

“The center was filled with friendly faces and kind people,” Gregory said. “When working within such a heavy field, your peers and team members can be life savers. Having a work environment that promotes openness, sincerity, and unity maintains individuals’ mental well-being.”

In May 2022, Gregory received her Bachelor of Science from WKU, and next year will be receiving her Master of Science degree from WKU as well. 

“I plan on applying for Clinical Psychology Ph.D. programs this fall. I will maintain my focus on staying involved in suicide and self-harm research, as well as hopefully become licensed to practice,” Gregory said. “My research focus remains on suicide and self-harm behaviors within the LGBTQ+ community, adolescents and young adults, marginalized identities, and social and emotional relationship qualities.”

Gregory has wanted to help people since she was a child. She took a dual credit psychology class in highschool. From then she became obsessed with the field of psychology.

“Self-injurious thoughts and behaviors are not new, yet the research is still behind in understanding fully the intricate connections, correlations, and causality behind the actions or thoughts of suicidal people or people who engage in self-harm,” Gregory said. “I find motivation in continuing working within this field because if people were to always stop when answers aren’t clearly laid out for them, we would not have advanced as far as we have in other fields of research or treatment.”

In 2014, while she was in high school in Bowling Green, Tunstill went through a traumatic event. Her boyfriend started abusing her during the last few months of their relationship, Tunsill said.

“The domestic disputes and violence didn’t start till almost six months into the relationship,” Tunstill said. 

The abuse started out from choking her if she said the wrong thing and escalated to stalking her after she started to distance herself as she planned to leave.

“I kept thinking, ‘I can’t believe I’m in this situation. I always look down on women who stayed with abusive partners, this can’t be my life’,” Tunstill said. “I’ve learned domestic violence comes and starts in many different ways and it is not as easy to leave as most people think.” 

Tunstill came to realize that it’s hard to leave a difficult situation without support or if the person is too ashamed to tell the truth.

The book details the abuse she faced for a year. She shares stories of being stalked, being shot at, kidnapped as well as other stories of dealing with the dangerous situation for a year.

The shooting incident happened after Tunstill broke up with the person. The man was charged with attempted murder and went on the run, according to a story in the Bowling Green Daily News 

Tunstill asked that the former boyfriend’s name not be included in the story.

Her mother’s use of social media helped her get out of the abusive situation she was in, said Tunstill

Her mom had made a post on Facebook with a photo of her ex boyfriend’s car and his face. In the post, Tunstill’s mother explained how the former boyfriend had been abusing her daughter and had a warrant out for his arrest for attempted murder, verified with photo.

“Somebody happened to see him where he was hiding in Indianapolis at a tire shop trying to take his rims off of his truck so he wouldn’t be caught,” Tunstill said.

The domestic abuse ended in 2015 when this person went to jail, Tunstill said. From there Tunstill and her family started to heal from the situation.

“After going through what she went through, I just remember one day when I was at her mom’s house to visit her. She was on the couch, she couldn’t move, her face looked so different, and it was just a scary sight,” Jasmine Edmonds, a family friend of Tunstill, said. “Ever since then I’ve watched her be on the news, doing her podcast, and doing things up at Western for abuse and mental health.”

In 2015 Tunstill moved out of Bowling Green and to Texas to live with her father for three months and started going to therapy. 

“Seeing her go through that and the different things she does, has actually helped me leave my abusive relationship with my children’s father,” Edmonds said. “She was so motivating, seeing her go from that couch to where she is now is so unbelievable.”

Tunstill started WKU in 2019 to pursue her degree in broadcasting. During her first two years at WKU Tunstill had a podcast called Shikira Speaks on Facebook. While she was at WKU she was also in a few short films and ran for Miss Black Western 2020.

“I’ve always been a people’s person and into people sharing their stories, so I thought why not be a reporter,” Tunstill said. “I didn’t think reporting for me was going to take off, but I was naturally talented with people and reporting. My career at WKU took off out of nowhere, so I thought about starting my own podcast since people seemed so engaged with me.”

The podcast covered topics about mental health, overcoming hardships and other topics she has personally faced in her life. During Covid-19 the views on her podcast went up leaving them at more than 1,000 views on the podcasts. 

She is not currently posting any podcasts, but she plans to resume posting in the fall. She is thinking about moving her podcast to YouTube. 

Tunstill wants to show students and people in general they can face challenges and still chase their dreams while defeating the odds. 

“Reporting helped heal a lot of that along with having a great support system with my family,” Tunstill said. “I say reporting because I am able to meet different people and engage with different people to see that I’m not the only one that has a story to tell.”

Being able to share someone’s story and to get more of an understanding that other people have things that they battle with too is what made Tunstill fall in love with journalism and got her into mental health.

“I would get a lot of emails and inboxes with questions about how I overcame domestic violence and other trials and tribulations I faced before entering WKU,” Tunstill said. “Instead of replying back to so many emails, I decided why not write a book.”

The chapters in Tunstill’s book, ScapeGoat, will cover topics like domestic abuse in all forms and the mental health stigma, especially in Black homes. 

“This book is to encourage and inspire people, life is a journey, no matter your race or age,” Tunstill said. “You can fall and even take a break, but you can always pick up where you left off and beat the stigmas”.

Tunstill named the book ScapeGoat because that can be how people feel when they are struggling with mental health. They may feel like an outcast. 

“Mental health will mentally have people feeling like they are an outcast, especially in Black homes,” Tunstill said. “The topic of mental health in Black homes is ignored and swept under the rug for the most part”.

Tunstill hopes to beat the stigma of mental health, especially in Black homes so that people struggling with their mental health can get help and not feel like an outcast.

Tunstill had some struggles with mental health before the domestic violence situation.

“I had mental issues a little bit before the domestic violence simply because being raised by a single mother and having to put on the load of being the older sister,” Tunstill said. “For me, as far as being the oldest sibling, I had to take on a lot as far as being the second parent.”

When these mental issues started for Tunstill her mother was unaware of them until the domestic violence situation. When Tunstill was younger she wasn’t vocal about the mental issues she was struggling with.

“After the domestic violence situation, that’s when I started being bold and speaking up. That’s when she started becoming more supportive because it was like her waking up to saying ‘I didn’t know you were feeling that way. I didn’t know you were battling this’.,” Tunstil said. “To me it is crazy how certain, sometimes tragic, situations have to happen for family and friends to start to see what you are dealing with or even change their ways.”

Tunstill feels like if parents in black homes take the time to put their feelings first, especially their kids feeling and let their kids express themselves, then it won’t backfire and revisit the kids when their adults 

“I really feel like the stigma of not being able to express anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, ect. Is always swept under the rug in the black community and it does need to be spoken on,” Tunstill said. “That’s another reason why the book is being written.”

ScapeGoat will touch base with these topics with the purpose of helping people battling mental health behind closed doors. 

As she returns to WKU to finish her senior year she hopes to write a second book a year after. The second book will focus more on the good outcome of things. 

She is still trying to sort out minor details with her first book. 

“The goal is that ScapeGoat will be published and released this fall,” Tunstill said.

Makaio Smith can be reached at makaio.smith083@topper.wku.edu.

College is stressful. Classes, studying and even just socializing can take a toll on you and your mental health.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, in 2012, 72% of students had a mental health crisis on campus, and 34% of students said their college didn’t know about the crisis. Mental illnesses on campus are extremely common, and sometimes they can get the better of you.

Students and counseling professionals compiled a list of things you can do to improve your mental health. 

Here are a few ways you can cope if you can’t get in to see a professional therapist:

1. Look at pictures of things that make you happy. Even something as small as this can bring you out of a funk. Seeing things that make you happy can encourage you to keep going, too.

2. If you are surrounded by too many people and you feel like you are about to have a panic attack, imagine everyone around you is tiny and you can’t hear them. One student said this helped her with anger issues and social anxiety.

3. Remind yourself that people do care about you — even when you feel like you don’t deserve it.

4. Get out of your room. Listen to music as you walk somewhere or sit down under a tree and read a book. Do something outside of your normal routine that might make you feel less overwhelmed.

5. When you feel alone, talk to someone who loves you and you trust. Sometimes just talking to someone can make you feel the tiniest bit better and less alone.

6. Eat healthily with a balanced diet and get an adequate amount of sleep. Professionals recommend getting seven to nine hours of sleep a night. Try to sleep on a normal pattern rather than sleeping for four hours one night and 11 the next day.

7. Color or paint something! Focusing on an activity like this can lessen stress, and working with your hands can help ease your mind and body.

8. Take time for yourself. School can take a huge toll on your body and your mental health. Taking even a 15-minute break every once in a while can make a huge difference. If you feel like you need longer, take longer and recharge your mind and health before returning to work.

9. Yoga and breathing exercises are a great way to deal with in-the-moment mental health issues. Yoga stretches your body and makes you feel relaxed. Try breathing in for six seconds and out for four seconds to calm your heart and mind wherever you are.

10. One student said CBD oil helps her. CBD oil is said to ease the effects of anxiety and depression. The oil can be found in several different forms and can be found locally at First and Last CBD in Bowling Green. Remember to consult a medical professional to decide if this path is right for you.

11. There are several apps to help you manage stress, anxiety, panic attacks and depression. “Insight Timer” and “Virtual Hope Box” are both free, very effective and created with your needs in mind. “Booster Buddy” is an app created to help you complete daily tasks and improve your mental health.

12. Join a campus support group. There are several different groups on campus such as QPR Suicide Prevention and Awareness, Healthy Relationships and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction.

13. Take care of your body. Try to shower, brush your hair, brush your teeth and eat enough. Taking care of yourself physically can help you take care of yourself mentally.

14. Reach out to people who understand what you’re going through. You are not alone in your mental illness even if it feels like you are. Let people help you help yourself.

While these in-the-moment coping strategies can be helpful, they don’t stand in for the help of a professional. Schedule an appointment with a therapist or counselor and discuss your problems. They will help you choose the best plan to better your mental health and teach you even more coping strategies.

The WKU Counseling and Testing Center is a good place to start, or you could seek a therapist off campus. Here are a few counseling options off campus:

The Cognitive Refinery: 948 Elm St. #2.

Maple Tree Mental Wellness: 1183 Kentucky St.

Hilltop Counseling Services: 1721 U.S. 31 W Bypass

Features reporter Taylor Metcalf can be reached at 270-745-6291 and taylor.metcalf496@topper.wku.edu.