CPP students share what keeps them strong during Suicide Prevention Month
By Dylan Mangahis, September 30, 2025
(Disclaimer: This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org. Please refer to these resources or the ones at the end of the article if you or someone else needs help.)
September is Suicide Prevention Month, and as we come to a close, our students shared their favorite ways to keep their spirits up.
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization take over a year to publish current statistics, the CDC logged more than 49,000 people died by suicide in 2023 – meaning one death occurred every 11 minutes. Suicide is still ranked as the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S.
A study done by the National Library of Medicine reported that unemployment can cause an increased likelihood of developing depression, severe stress, and anxiety.
And in July 2025, USA Facts recorded the unemployment rate in California was higher than the U.S. overall, ranging from 4.1% to 18.9% all over the state.
“It’s definitely very difficult,” said fourth-year psychology student Sophie Yi. “I think sometimes we can underestimate how hard it is.”
Yi is a transfer student, and the changes college has brought could be quite stressful. Before Cal Poly, Yi spent three years at Citrus College, starting in psychology, changing her major, then settling back into psych.
Through it all, Li highlighted finding her smile within her community, especially with her boyfriend.
“It’s a healing experience that brings me more joy than I thought I’d ever have,” Yi said.
A study done by the National Library of Medicine shows that getting hugs from loved ones can reduce cortisol responses to psychosocial stress. In times when that is not possible, self-soothing is a good alternative in times of distress.
Self-soothing refers to activities or actions that provide comfort or reduce emotional distress. For example, going for a walk, listening to cherished music, or smelling essential oils or candles.
For Yi, the perfect spot to self-soothe is at the Aratani Japanese Garden across building 98.
“If I want to go to a place to study that makes me not feel so stressed out,” Li said. “I love going to the Japanese Garden. Just because those views are so calming.”
Being a freshman in college can bring on a new set of road bumps. When she’s lonely, English literature student Sophia Hernandez likes to call her friends from home.
Hernandez has also found a few safe places on campus to thrive, even though she’s only been living at CPP for a few weeks. As a violinist, Hernandez uses the music building as a mental escape while she practices and hangs out with friends.
“I’m in a string quartet,” said Hernandez. “We’ll rehearse and stick around a little to talk.”
She also likes to utilize study rooms right next to her dorm in late-night instances.
The dorms can be an oasis for many, bringing on a few friendships and ideas. First-year biotech major, Jose Prieto, said he’s found anew within his own dorm room.
“Getting to know my roommate, getting to know even his girlfriend too, has given me that sense of community; that sense of belonging,” Prieto said. “I finally started to open up.”
Realization hit hard for Prieto as he internalized going to school and living away from friends and family. But moving past his fears, his creativity opened up by starting his own small business.
Prieto hand-makes satin flower bouquets in his small business, Rosesbyjose. While it didn’t take off in high school, now Prieto operates right out of his dorm.
“I make them all the time, it’s just my way of decluttering myself,” said Prieto. “It always brings me a sense of joy whenever I go out and do my deliveries, cause the amount of gratitude I get for the work that I do gives me a sense of purpose.”
If you or someone you know struggles with suicidal thoughts or mental health burdens, there are centers on campus that are there for support. Counseling and Psychological Services is a mental health facility on campus with professionals ready to aid you. Reach out to the CARE center on campus to learn more about the wide variety of resources available. The university library also hosts dog therapy sessions every semester, and scheduled times can be viewed on the CPP MyBar events page.
