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Maranda Rosier turned tragedy to commitment for change
May 19, 2014
Maranda Rosier served as chair of the Out of the Darkness Walk at USC in April. She is committed to raising awareness about the need to prevent suicide.
Maranda Rosier is a young woman of action and commitment.
A beloved uncle's death to suicide led Rosier to talk to her family about her depression over his passing. The tragedy also made her determined to work toward removing the stigma of depression, thereby encouraging others to seek help.
Rosier of North Augusta, S.C., is a junior in the Arnold School's public health program. She participated in the Out of the Darkness Walk in October by the local chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). In April, Rosier was chair of the Out of the Darkness Walk at USC and plans to do the same for the walk in April 2015 at USC. She also serves on the committee that is planning the Columbia area walk on Oct. 26 at Riverfront Park.
The experiences have helped her through her grief. "Being involved with the foundation has really helped me to feel that I have been able to turn a tragedy into a positive," said Rosier, who is working this summer as an intern for AFSP in Columbia.
"Suicide is a public health problem," said Rosier, "As a public health major, I realize that we must do something to help people speak up and to remove the stigma of depression and mental illness that can lead to depression."
Rosier is correct about suicide as a public health problem in the United States. According to AFSP, more than 38,000 Americans took their lives in 2010, the most recent year for which there is data. Suicide accounts for 12 deaths for every 100,000 people nationwide, making it the country’s 10th leading cause of death.
Among young people, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that -- among those between the ages 15 to 24 years old -- there are approximately 100-200 attempts for every completed suicide.
Rosier is determined to make a difference. "The loss of a loved one because of suicide is difficult to understand. It has a much different impact than having a loved one die from another cause," she said.
Because of her service and community outreach through USC's Out of the Darkness Walk, Rosier was the subject of a feature article through UofSC Today.
Visit http://www.sc.edu/uofsc/stories/2014/04_suicide_prevention_walk.php#.U3orzk0U_5o to know more about her work.
