Be The Light Alternatives
Our original idea for a Be The Light event was a candle-lit lunch in the cafeteria on National Suicide Prevention Day. Unfortunately, this idea was not passed by the administration due to multiple lunch schedules and the inability to turn off the lights in the cafeteria. However this may be permissible in other school environments.
Candle-Lit Lunch
If you are a smaller school or institution and your administration is willing to make accomodations, this idea is a great way to be more intimate with your audience and really open their eyes to how much suicide can take a toll on the community.
How to do it
A candle-lit lunch will most likely require battery operated candles at each table or in each area. Along with the candles, make sure to have suicide statistics printed out and scattered across the tables for students to look at. Don't forget to include the suicide prevention hotline as well: 1-800-273-8255.
Influence Board
Whether by itself or accompanied by a Candle Lit lunch, a poster for students and faculty to sign is a great way to get everyone involved and create a visual representation of the vast effects of suicide. Using colored "My name is" name tags or just colored markers, have participants write the name of someone they know on the poster. Use the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention color guide :
White - Lost a Child
Red - Lost a Spouse or Partner
Gold - Lost a Parent
Orange - Lost a Sibling
Purple - Lost a Relative or Friend
Silver - Lost First Responder / Military
Green - Struggled Personally
Blue - Support the Cause
Teal - Friends and Family of Someone Who Struggles
Join us in making a real difference.