The COVID-19 pandemic has elevated our awareness of the importance of mental health. In honor of National Suicide Prevention Week Sept. 5-11, support students both in and out of the classroom by becoming a mental health advocate. You can help spread the message of mental health support in several ways. Join us at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11 in front of the Rhatigan Student Center for the inaugural Suspenders4Hope Run for Hope and 1-Mile Walk in Honor to benefit StopSuicideICT. Find more information about registering a team and donating at supenders4hope.stopsuicideict.com. Go to suspenders4hope.com and complete the #WeSupportU Preventing Suicide Training to learn more tools for supporting our students who may be struggling. Follow, like and share @ShockersCAPS to help the message of hope reach students. Wear a Suspenders4Hope shirt as a visual display of your support for mental health and to help decrease mental health stigma. Shirts are available for purchase at the Shocker Store. Wear them often, especially on Fridays. Participate in the #WeSupportU Mental Wellness in the Classroom card project. This project is designed to give you a series of short five to 10-minute exercises that can be performed with any group of students to promote well-being and connectedness. Request a set of cards here. Learn more about becoming a mental health advocate