In observance of World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) and Suicide Prevention Month, the Guidance Services and Wellness Center (GSWC) held its annual mental health awareness program titled WellBe-INK: Changing the Narrative on Suicide from September 10 to 27, 2025.

World Suicide Prevention Day, observed every September 10, is a global initiative led by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). This year’s GSWC campaign embraced the 2024–2026 WSPD theme, “Changing the Narrative on Suicide,” which focuses on breaking silence, reducing stigma, and fostering compassion and understanding around mental health.

The program encouraged students and staff to express empathy, solidarity, and hope through art and writing. The event featured three interactive components under Project Semicolon: Body Paint, Freedom Wall, and Letter after the Pause.

The Body Paint activity invited participants to wear their advocacy with pride by receiving temporary semicolon-themed henna tattoos. The semicolon, a symbol of continuation, reminded participants that their stories are not yet over. The Freedom Wall served as a public art space where individuals could share motivational messages throughout the month. While no formal data were collected to maintain anonymity, the heartfelt notes left behind expressed gratitude, hope, and encouragement—showing how a few words can inspire strength in others. Meanwhile, Letter after the Pause invited participants to write personal letters of hope and were kept private to preserve the safe and respectful space that the GSWC aimed to provide.

The WellBe-INK campaign served as a movement of voices refusing to stay silent. It reminded the university community that advocacy does not end when the month concludes. It continues in the everyday choices to check in on a friend, to listen without judgment, and to choose hope when things feel heavy.