Pensacola, FL. - The Eta Psi Chapter of the Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) Fraternity at the University of West Florida hosted a Suicide Prevention and Awareness proclamation signing Monday morning at the University of West Florida. Joining the brothers of ATO at the signing were Escambia County District 4 Commission Grover C. Robinson IV, Provost, and Senior Vice President Dr. George Ellenberg, faculty, staff, and fellow students. In addition, Mayor Ashton Hayward also presented a proclamation to the Chapter signifying Pensacola’s commitment to helping end this epidemic.
The intent is to help promote awareness for suicide prevention and raise awareness of resources available to those in the community. The simple goal is to learn how to help those in need and to know how to talk about suicide without increasing the risk of harm.
"As we've been trying to get the message out, we've met more and more people that do have a story close to their heart about somebody who has committed suicide or somebody who has attempted to commit suicide,” said Kip Wynne, who is the President of the Eta Psi Chapter of Alpha Tau Omega.
Suicide is one of the most disruptive and tragic events a family and a community can experience, with more than 3,187 lives lost in Florida in 2017 and an estimated 25 attempted suicides for each suicide death. In Florida, suicide is the eighth-leading cause of all deaths and the third-leading cause of death among people from the age of 15 to 24. At the end of the month, the organization will be hosting a handful of events to bring suicide prevention and awareness, including a joint partnership with GlowRage to bring the city of Pensacola the 5th annual ATGLOW.
The Eta Psi Chapter of Alpha Tau Omega is one of six IFC fraternities at the University of West Florida, where they are highly involved not only around campus but in the community. Their philanthropy focus on bringing awareness and prevention of suicide. With such backlash coming from fraternities across the United States, it's great to see fraternities like the Alpha Tau Omega chapter at UWF showing how much good can come from these organizations.
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Contact Alpha Tau Omega - Eta Psi Chapter:
Kip Wynne
(813) 380-2901
atouwf@gmail.com
11000 University Pkwy Pensacola, FL 32514
