TAMPA, Fla. — A new bench at USF is spreading awareness about suicide prevention.

What You Need To Know

  • USF senior Julia Pagan led the effort to add a suicide prevention bench in Greek Village

  • According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 11 percent of young adults ages 18-25 report they've had serious thoughts about suicide

  • Pagan's sorority, Delta Gamma, agreed to sponsor and pay for the suicide prevention bench

  • The bench was built by the nonprofit, Josh's Benches, an organization that's dedicated to raising awareness about mental health

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 11% of young adults ages 18-25 report they’ve had serious thoughts about suicide. It’s the third leading cause of death for that age group.

USF Engineering student Julia Pagan has dedicated years to bringing awareness to the issue. She led the effort to get the bench installed at USF’s Greek Village. 

“It brings me joy,” Pagan said. 

Pagan said the bright yellow bench is a reminder that words matter and help is three digits away. Just dial 988.

“Some people that need help might not know that they can ask for it, or might not be comfortable asking for it,” Pagan said. “So having that physical reminder, I think, is so powerful.”

Pagan got the idea for the suicide awareness bench after seeing another one in the parking lot on campus at USF. 

Her sorority, Delta Gamma, agreed to sponsor and pay for the bench. They partnered with the nonprofit Josh’s Benches. It’s an organization dedicated to spreading awareness about mental health. 

What’s just as powerful is the passion Pagan has to do any of it. Even before the bench was a thought, she would leave motivational sticky notes in random places.

“Always, always,” Pagan said. “I have a stack of them in my purse.”

She also has a motivational Instagram page, called Be the Light, with more than 11 thousand followers. And Pagan started an online store, Be the Light, two years ago to sell uplifting T-shirts.

But Pagan’s passion for uplifting is rooted in pain. Every year throughout high school, someone Pagan knew died by suicide. After a family friend took his life, Pagan got a tattoo.

“The semicolon kind of symbolizes pause. The sun will rise again,” Pagan said about her tattoo. “Tomorrow is a new day.”

Processing loss after loss and dealing with her own depression, Pagan wanted to stress the positive and do more to end the stigma surrounding mental health.

“There’s strength in asking for help,” Pagan said. “You are not weak. You got this.”

Pagan said she’s been told her uplifting words have actually saved lives. And she’s hoping the suicide awareness bench will save lives too.

Her hope is to add more suicide awareness benches throughout the state.