Succulent sales and a mission to end suicide

Out of Darkness, a suicide prevention club at UNC, wants to spread awareness and ease the stress of midterm season by adding a bit of greenery to people's homes. Out of Darkness will be selling succulent plants in The Pit this Valentine’s Day. 

The event, named 'SUICIDE SUCKS! Succulent Sale,' will last from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 14. People can purchase rosette succulents for $5 apiece. All of the money from the sale will go toward suicide prevention programs and advocacy efforts.  

Along with the sale, Out of Darkness will be providing information regarding their UNC-Chapel Hill Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk, helping students register at the event. The walk is a fundraising event that raises money for educational programs, research grants and expos to present research to communities in North Carolina. 

Out of Darkness also advocates for mental health through legislation at the local, state and national level. They have a goal of raising $14,000 for suicide prevention through the walk. Out of Darkness is in partnership with North Carolina’s Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.  

Sarah Cothren, the co-chairperson of the UNC Out of the Darkness Campus Walk, has been personally affected by suicide. She lost her roommate to suicide during her senior year of college. Because of this, Sarah has re-routed her career toward suicide prevention. 

“This is work that I will continue to do until I die because I truly feel passionate about suicide prevention," Cothren said. "If we’re ever going to get rid of suicide, we’re going to need as many feet on the ground working toward that goal.”  

Cothren said half of the money of the sale will go toward suicide research and advocacy efforts while the other half will go toward UNC suicide prevention trainings offered to staff, faculty and students. 

“Our short term goal is to raise awareness and money for suicide prevention on campus," Cothren said. "Our long term goal is to eradicate all college suicides, both on UNC’s campus and every other campus in America."

Cothren completed her degree in public health at Appalachian State University. Now, in Chapel Hill, her main goal is to lead the annual Out of the Darkness Campus Walk that started last year. She said that in 2018, this walk raised over $13,000, and Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger attended. 

Cothren said the group decided to sell succulents because of their calming effects and as an out-of-the-box fundraiser for their walk. 

“If you go into a mental wellness office, you'll oftentimes see what's called a ‘tranquility garden.’" Cothren said. "It's been shown that these little tranquility gardens have calming effects, great to have in times of stress and overwhelm. Succulents are also known to be tenacious, only needing to be watered about once a week, and symbolize enduring and timeless love.”

Caroline Whatley, a first-year at UNC, will be attending the succulent sale. 

“I think it’s important to raise awareness on suicide, especially for college students since so many feel depressed or suicidal," Whatley said. "Also succulents are cute, so why not?”

According to the Center for Disease Control, suicide is the second leading cause of death in people aged 15-24. Out of Darkness is making an effort to make those numbers dramatically decrease through increased research on suicide.  

“Suicide prevention and mental health care awareness is extremely important because it's been hidden for so long," said Claire Staresinic, who will also be attending the sale. "Purchasing a succulent is the least I can do.”

arts@dailytarheel.com