Pinwheel display brings awareness to second-leading cause of death at college

Special to The Clinton Courier

Jenny Crutchfield, director of mental health services at MC, hopes the display of pinwheels will help educate MC students about the mental health resources available to them on campus.

Mississippi College faculty, staff, students and visitors who walk through or drive by the historic Quad Tuesday through Friday, September 3-6, will see 1,100 brightly colored pinwheels gently twirling in the early autumn breeze.

The total of plastic-curled whirligigs is intentional – it represents the average number of college students nationally who lose their lives to suicide each year.

Targeted to MC students and the Clinton community, the “Pinwheels for Suicide Prevention” campaign raises awareness of the second-leading cause of death on college campuses in the U.S. and provides information about resources available at MC to help combat the mental health threat.

Jenny Crutchfield, director of mental health services at MC, borrowed the idea from Active Minds, an organization devoted to spreading the message that seeking help for mental health issues is a sign of strength, not shame.

Each year, about 24,000 college students attempt suicide, and as many as twelve percent of all college students have thoughts of suicide during their first four years of school. Almost two-thirds of college students report that they either know someone who has attempted suicide or someone who has died of suicide.

“There’s been something of a societal stigma when it comes to people who have been challenged in this way,” Crutchfield said. “That tide seems to be turning, and events like this bring awareness and let people know that it’s OK to talk about suicide.”

Why pinwheels?

“They’re bright and colorful, and seeing them helps make the topic of suicide much less dark,” Crutchfield said.

She started “Pinwheels for Suicide Prevention” at Hinds Community College, where she served as district Licensed Professional Counselor of mental health services. The display was so well received – days afterward, students would ask her questions about the display and talk about their personal experiences – that she decided to bring the tradition to Mississippi College.

Through the display, Crutchfield hopes to educate MC students about the mental health resources available to them on campus.

“We will have signs throughout the display explaining what the pinwheels represent,” Crutchfield said. “We want to let those who may be experiencing these thoughts to know that they’re not alone. We will also include positive messages embedded in the display to let them know that if they are struggling, we’re here to help. We will have counselors on site at various times if someone needs to speak with us, or, if they’re in a crisis, they can come see us on the fourth floor of Alumni Hall – no appointment needed.”

Students who need help can visit mc.edu/offices/mental-health-services. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255.