Students, faculty and guests braved the cold Thursday morning for the third annual Reach Out to Help seminar. The seminar, put on by ULM Helps, was in honor of National Survivors of Suicide Day.

The event included booths from several programs that support suicide outreach programs like the ULM Marriage and Family Therapy Center and West Monroe AmeriCorps.

Other booths showcased ways to relive stress. Carrere Technical College had massage tables set up for stress relief that even the busy school mascot Ace could not pass up.

The Monroe Athletic Club had their booth out to support the event.

“We came out to support and promote stress relieving through exercise,” said Brandon McDaniel, a junior Kinesiology major manning the MAC’s booth.

The main theme for the seminar was being a “University with a heart,” as President Nick Bruno put it.

The group was also celebrating the 4,000 people ULM Helps has trained to recognize those who might commit suicide. These students follow the idea that Dr. Wayne Brumfield, vice president of student affairs, put forward by “not walking around campus with blinders on.”

Peggy Buffington, project director of ULM HELPS, stressed the importance of being there for people in need. One of the main events at this seminar was the joining of hands of all in attendance.

“This circle symbolizes our willingness to hold out a hand to those in need,” said Buffington. “It gives me chills every time I see it.”

They also released balloons in honor of those whose lives have been lost to suicide.

“We should honor these people that in a moment decided not to move forward, and honor the fact that we are not going to let anymore lives be wasted,” said Buffington.