|Photo by Kimmee Poole|

On Nov. 5, 2009 students of Spring Arbor University joined with other people around the country to show support during To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) Day by drawing various, different colored tattoos on their arms. This day is part of the outreach program for a non-profit organization called To Write Love on Her Arms, an organization which seeks to raise awareness about the extreme issues depression can cause and seeks to point hurting people in the direction of those who can help them.

TWLOHA began in 2006 when the founders decided to try to help a friend in need. To do this, they began marketing their products to raise support and awareness for their friend and others with similar stories.

The founders of the organization and their supporters, including many SAU students, believe raising awareness is essential because of just how prevalent depression is in the world. TWLOHA’s website (www.twloha.com) contains some alarming statistics on depression.

“Two out of three people who struggle with depression never seek help, and that untreated depression is the leading cause of suicide,” the website claims. “In America alone, it’s estimated that 19 million people live with depression, and suicide is the third-leading cause of death among those 18-24 years old.”

All of the SAU students who showed their support on TWLOHA Day did so for their own reasons, but each of the reasons seemed to have two things in common: promoting love and a dedication for raising awareness of this serious issue.

“I have a lot of friends who have gone through depression and, or, self-mutilation,” said freshman Rachel Burger. “I have struggled with that as well and [today] is a great way to remember people. It’s not a dead issue. It’s alive, and we’re remembering it.”

“I believe that without love there is no life,” said sophomore Kyle Rehnlund.

“We should treat love like a verb,” said sophomore Sarah Melton. “I’ve struggled, and I’ve had some friends that have struggled; I know how it feels and I want to support them.”

“I’ve known about the organization since my freshman year, and I thought it was a really good cause,” said junior Jamie Bogdanowicz.

“I love the organization and what they’re doing,” said junior Colette McKinney. “The idea that hope is possible, and no one is alone is something people need to be reminded of no matter what they’ve gone through.”

“I just want to bring awareness to people so they know they’re not alone, and that there are resources to help them,” said junior Cheryn Scripter.

Scripter and other students shared why they believe it is so important to raise awareness on campuses like Spring Arbor University.

“We are a Christian university, but we struggle with problems,” Scripter said. “We need to learn how to help those that need help and we need to learn how to support them.”

“It’s something a lot of people struggle with,” said senior Cheryl Matthews. “We need to raise awareness that it’s not just you. You can find love and support.”

“People expect Christians to be perfect and happy,” said junior Kim Doletzky. “They don’t expect there to be such hurt in their lives. People need to be aware [though] that are hurting people around them, even if they don’t show it.”

“It’s a real problem,” said freshman Morgan Duncan. “This age group–college students–really struggle, and a lot of people don’t realize how much.”

“People are hurting and a lot of times they don’t want to talk about it,” said sophomore Kaleigh Casey. “As a school, a community, we need to show love to people who are hurt.”

The students who participated in this event encouraged those struggling with the issue to search out help and remember they are not alone. If a student sees people who look like they are hurting, TWLOHA supporters who participated in this event would encourage that student to speak with them.

“Talk to people,” said sophomore Laurissa Corbin. “Part of depression is feeling alone. You feel like you’re in a big hole all alone and when someone says something to you, it can make your whole day or even your whole life brighter.”

Those who struggle with depression should speak with residential leadership or someone like Chaplin Ron Kopicko, who can point them in the direction of help. Also the TWLOHA website (www.twloha.com) has several links under the “Find Help” tab which provide contacts to people who are looking to make a change for the better.