MTSU SGA will hold a vigil for a student who died by suicide

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) community is mourning the loss of a student who committed suicide Monday at Walker Library.

“We all take this on every day because no one can really prepare for an incident like this,” said Michai Mosby, president of the MTSU Student Government Association.

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According to MT Lambda, an LGBTQIA+ organization and its ally student organization at MTSU, the student who died was Serenity Birdsong. Birdsong served as vice president of MT Lambda.

“Serenity was more than just an officer to us, many of us considered Serenity a friend, and her ability to light up a room combined with her wholesome demeanor made her welcome everywhere, but especially at Lambda where the darkness of the existing weighs upon us in a world so often cruel to us, and it was this darkness that extinguished Serenity’s life” – a statement from the organization published on social media – we read in part.

Local mental health professionals encouraged students to reach out to each other and said acts of kindness can go a long way.

If you are considering self-harm, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, available 24 hours a day.

“Little things that we can do for people every day… Just be nice to someone, everyone you meet, try not to spread hate, try not to spread ill will and negativity,” said Nathan Miller, spokesman Behavioral Health Care Volunteering System (VBHCS) in Murfreesboro.

According to the Tennessee Department of Health, the state’s suicide rate is rising, and the suicide rate is even higher in rural areas compared to larger cities, according to a 2023 study. report.

VBHCS says crisis services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through 9-8-8 a phone number that can be answered in less than 60 seconds. They also implemented a crisis stabilization unit that can help adults with or without insurance.

Press spokesman Tennessee Equality Project also shared a statement with News 2:

“We join the MTSU community as they mourn the loss of a student this week. In particular, our hearts go out to MT Lambda, a student organization working on behalf of the LGBTQ community. The challenge for all of us is to provide people with the resources they need to find hope in their darkest moments and thrive. This may be difficult in a country where discrimination is legally sanctioned.”

The MTSU Student Government Association plans to organize, among others: watch on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in front of the Walker Library. MTSU president Sidney McPhee sent another letter to students, encouraging the affected community to join her in the vigil.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a preventive network of 161 crisis centers that provides a 24-hour, toll-free hotline available to anyone experiencing a suicide crisis or emotional problems. If you or someone you know needs support right now, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

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