Suicide Prevention Week 2021

The College of Dentistry’s Suicide Prevention Week campaign was September 6-12. This week of events was held in conjunction with increasing suicide prevention efforts on campus and nationwide to address the rising number of attempted and completed suicides by college and graduate students. Collegiate counselor, Cari Anderson, says that the primary goal for this week was to “not only increase awareness about the prevalence of suicide risk in our college and the dental profession but to also further de-stigmatize mental health and combat the culture of silence on this topic.”

As part of Suicide Prevention Week, a kickoff benefit concert for the Jenifer (Dr. Jen) Wolfe Memorial Funding Campaign took place Saturday, September 18 at Wilson’s Orchard and Farm in Iowa City, IA. Guests in town for the College of Dentistry Double Alumni Reunion Weekend were invited to attend the concert with music by HomeBrewed featuring Pete Damiano (’86 DDS), Shaan Desai (’20 DDS), and Cameron Gray (’21 DDS), along with special guest Mike Kanellis (’79 DDS, ’82 MS, ’95 MS). The
concert was free, but contributions to the Jenifer Wolfe memorial campaign were encouraged.

The memorial fund was established in honor of Jen Wolfe (’01 DDS, ’05 PEDOS) of Altoona, IA, a member of the Class of 2001 and former pediatric dentistry resident, who died by suicide on June 20, 2020. The funds raised as part of the campaign will be used to sponsor suicide prevention and awareness activities for health professionals and students while also providing support for suicide loss survivors. A small portion of the funds will also be used to assist low-income children in need of dental care. Breaking the stigma that surrounds suicide and mental health requires candid conversations about suicide awareness and prevention.