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North Carolina State University student of Indian origin, Avi Aggarwal, has been working on creating awareness on mental health issues among faculty, students and administrators. Avi Aggarwal is the president of the NC State student organisation
Nation's Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

Marking the World Suicide Prevention Day, observed on Thursday, Avi Aggarwal said, "One of our main goals is to reduce the stigmas surrounding mental illnesses and surrounding suicide, because no one talks about it.”

According to reports from NC State University Technician, the student newspaper, NAMI is promoting mental health services at present on campus besides assisting students in leveraging such services.

Avi was quoted as saying that, "Over 90 percent of people who commit suicide are diagnosed with a mental illness.”

On Thursday, a candlelight vigil was also planned by NAMI through coordination with the NC State Student Health Centre.

"I think the vigil is like metaphor: we're lighting these candles; we're bringing light to the issue and creating a safe environment for people to come and share since it is a sensitive subject," Avi said.

Other organisations internationally, will even light candles at 8.00 p.m. World Suicide Prevention Day 2015 comes this year with the international theme of "Preventing Suicide: Reaching Out and Saving Lives".

-Sumana