NWU Champions Peer Support for Suicide Prevention Month

Northwestern University strengthens its culture of care and connection as Northwesternians come together for “Minds That Matter: Connecting for Well-Being & Strengthening Peer Support,” a day-long observance of Suicide Prevention Month held at the Guidance Center Garden on September 18, 2026.

Organized by the NWU Guidance Center in collaboration with the Peer Facilitators Club and Psych Society, the activity highlights the role of compassion, meaningful connection, and peer support in promoting mental well-being within the University community.

The celebration begins with the distribution of purple and green ribbons and bookmarks bearing encouraging messages, inviting Northwesternians to carry the advocacy for mental health awareness and suicide prevention beyond the day’s activities.

Students also take part in an interactive mirror activity, writing messages of affirmation and encouragement as reminders of self-worth, reflection, and the importance of caring for one’s well-being.

Music provides another space for connection through “Nota at Pahinga,” featuring a performance by Saguday After 5 and giving students an opportunity to pause, relax, and enjoy music amid the day’s activities.

Alongside the campus celebration, student leaders gather at the NWU Hostel for a Psychological Skills Training organized by the Guidance Center in collaboration with the Peer Facilitators Club. The training equips students with practical approaches to providing appropriate support to peers who may be experiencing distress.

Mr. Sherward Frez Cabrales of the Philippine Red Cross introduces participants to the three action principles of Psychological First Aid: Look, Listen, and Link.

He emphasizes the importance of recognizing immediate needs, listening without judgment, and connecting individuals with appropriate professional support when necessary.

Cabrales also calls for changing the perception of guidance offices as places students visit only when they have done something wrong.

“I am advocating that the Guidance Center office will be the safe haven for those vulnerable,” he shares, underscoring the importance of creating spaces where students feel safe to seek help and support.

Ms. Stephanie Marie Valiente, Associate Director of the NWU Guidance Center, further discusses the responsibilities and limitations of peer supporters during her session, “Know Your Role: Boundaries, Confidentiality, and Proper Referral in Peer Support.”

She reminds participants that supporting a peer does not mean having all the answers.

“You, as peer supporters, sana maiwan sa inyong mga isipan to listen. You don’t have to have all the answers for their problem. They just need a listening ear, empathic listening. Set boundaries and care without carrying,” Valiente says.

Through both celebration and skills development, “Minds That Matter” reinforces the value of building a University community where students know that support is available, conversations about mental well-being are welcomed, and seeking help is treated as an important part of caring for oneself and others.

As Northwestern University observes Suicide Prevention Month, the initiative carries a message beyond September: every conversation, act of compassion, and willingness to listen can help strengthen a community where no mind stands alone.

Photo credits: The Review)

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