Health center at Cypress College
BY MARCO URIAS
CYPRESS CHRONICLE
There was a Health Center showing of the documentary film “S Word” on Sept. 1 on Zoom. The main hosts were Cypress College health educator Krista Chavez-Camacho, and mental health counselor Anna Lonetti. They were available throughout the screening to chat with students in case they found some of the content triggering.
The “S Word” provided data garnered from the Center for Disease Control, including that 1.3 million will attempt suicide and 1100 students die by suicide. It talked about some of the words that surround suicide. For example stigma, silence, and shame. Kelechi Ubozoh, featured in the film, said that some people think suicide is so white. They showed a father of two girls, and author of the book “This is How it Feels,” by Craig Miller, sharing his story about suicide. They showed Desa’Rae Stage helping by listening to people affected by suicide, and who advised viewers to do the same.
In total 7 people attended at the “S Word” screening and participated in a survey that asked the actions they might take after the event and how they felt: 100% of participants felt motivated to talk about suicide.
Krista Chavez-Camacho said there will be another event on suicide, mental health, and information on resources on September 10 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Chavez-Camacho said there was going to be a “crash course” on “self-course.” She mentioned that she planned to have suicidology experts as guest speakers. Chavez-Camacho also mentioned the resources available to students: Cypress College Health Center (714) 487-7361, Health Resources; Chavez-Camacho also hoped to start LET’S TALK! again, previously hosted meetings by the Health Center for students and mental health counselors to meet, share what is stressing them out, and listen to other student experiences.
