By Amanda Barrios
Food Network star, Anne Burrell, shocked the world when the news of her death by suicide in June 2025 was revealed. Unfortunately, she wasn’t the first. In the past, we also lost celebrities such as fashion designer Kate Spade, dancer “tWitch”, singer/songwriter Chester Bennington, and actor Robin Williams. When we ask ourselves why, there’s no clear-cut answer. The struggle of mental health is real, and symptoms vary from person to person. As we close out September, it’s important to remember suicide awareness month – a month focused on one of the leading causes of death in the United States, claiming over 49,000 lives in 2023 (CDC.gov).
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention tells us that, in 2023, more men died by suicide than women. White males accounted for 68.13% of victims, with firearms being a top method by 55.4%. The AFSP also states that “suicide was the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10-34”.
Dominican University wants to help its students know they are not alone. Between late night study sessions, work, and extracurricular activities, it’s easy to forget to take care of ourselves. The Wellness Center is your one stop shop for help at no extra expense. Located in the lower level of Coughlin Hall, between the Fitness Center and the Office of Student Involvement, the Wellness Center offers a variety of health services, namely mental health care. Additionally, students can meet with a staff therapist, a part time therapist and a clinical psychologist.
Nhora Delgado Gonzalez, an advocate for the Wellness Center, explains “We offer anything from Single Sessions, which are noncommittal [and one time if a student just wants to talk for a short time], Counseling Intakes, which are similar to single sessions [but provide more information and resources], and Counseling Follow-up, which is when you’re seeing a therapist regularly.”
The Wellness Center is available Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed for lunch between noon – 1 p.m.). Nhora encourages students to use Thrive Counseling Center after hours, available 24/7. You can also reach the Wellness Center by emailing wellness@dom.edu or using your myDU account to schedule an appointment. Nhora urges students to come to Wellness Center, “[You’re] a part of this community. Coming to see a counselor can be scary, but there’s a lot of comfort in what we give students and there’s a lot of support.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, or just needs to talk to someone, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.
