16 Inside Hokie Sports “It’s really like a brotherhood, a sisterhood. All of them being in the same room and raising their hand, it’s an unfortunate connecting point, but it is a connecting point,” White said. “I think that is a good outcome. These student-athletes know that they are connected, we care about this topic, and they can reach out to our staff for support.” Dr. Bennett, a former student-athlete himself, realizes the importance the suicide prevention worshops play in creating a comfortable environment for Hokie student-athletes to be vulnerable and seek help when they need it. “The thing with someone who reaches a point where they consider suicide as an option is that they have reached a point of hopelessness. But with teammates and staff members intervening, we start to give them a glimmer of hope. I have no doubt that we’re gonna see in the future some amazing stories of people who are on the brink of dying by suicide and have gone on to impact the lives of a lot of people. Our hope is to help build an environment where individuals feel supported and cared for, especially during times where their struggles are very real.” CAMP staff leads Suicide Prevention Workshops Continued from page 15 Bennett alongside CAMP counselors Lauren Naldo and Paul Knackstedt.
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