Suicide prevention: Motivational speaker tells higher ed leaders to R.E.S.T.

“Statistics show that the population that is most at-risk is between 18 and 24, and so most higher education institutions serve that age population,� she said. “We just want to make sure that the schools in the state have the resources that they need to implement better programming on their campus and have more skills that they can implement to prevent suicide.�

Breakout sessions covered overarching policies for universities, programmatic initiatives and direct counseling services. They also heard about eating disorders and supporting student mental health overall.

But keynote speaker, Na Eun “Jiggy� Yoon, a mental health motivational speaker and mindset leadership coach, had a message targeted directly at the professionals in the audience — “Sometimes, it’s not motivation or discipline that you need. It’s R.E.S.T.�

For Yoon, R.E.S.T. means:

• Reflect on your needs
• Empathize with yourself
• Seek support
• Take your time

“It’s not just about them gaining information so that they can better serve other people,� Yoon said of teachers, counselors and other leaders before her presentation. “In my particular presentation, I hope that they can also take it upon themselves to prioritize themselves.�

While some motivational speakers aim to encourage people by using phrases like “Practice makes perfect� or “Be the lone wolf,� Yoon said in her presentation, “What motivational speaker tells you to take care of yourself?�

Instead of pursuing the “hustle culture� that Yoon said can be the message in personal and professional development spaces, she addressed burnout prevention, depression and anxiety as her speaking topics.

In her presentation, Yoon discussed her experiences with losing everything in a house fire, becoming homeless, losing her mother and eventually developing a chronic illness.

“Growing up, all I have heard was the pressure to perform standards of excellence and constantly performing output, and eventually it led me down to a detrimental consequence for my health, whether it’s mental health or physical health or emotional health. And so I learned it the hard way,� Yoon said.

Yoon told the audience how not taking a break can leave them irritable, stressed and unable to care for students, maintain relationships or enjoy their work. She told them therapy can be necessary, and “Mental health takes a village.�

“Champions don’t do it alone,� Yoon said, describing the work she does with professional athletes, standing by them and offering encouragement.

Overall, the coach, whose self-designed T-shirt read “Vulnerability is Dope,� wanted attendees to know that not only is it OK to take time for oneself and ask for help, but also, “Make sure that you are not the one abandoning yourself,� she said.

Yoon also had a chance to speak to a group of student athletes following her conference presentation.

“The speaker was excellent. I like, ‘Take time to rest and pause and recharge,’ and ‘Yeah, it’s OK to ask for help,’ and ‘Making it to the top is a team effort.’ We don’t do it alone, like the other motivational speakers like to portray,� Jeremy Bailey, a mentor with Marshall’s Suicide Prevention Across Campus, said of his takeaways.

Bailey is also part of the West Virginia Collegiate Recovery Network, but at Marshall, he provides freshmen and sophomores with information on resources like tutoring and counseling services. On top of that, he’s a student who said he often takes on more than he can handle with his various commitments.

“It’s kind of learning how to take on less and give myself time to rest and recharge. That way I can do quality work instead of being so spread thin that the quality of my work takes a dive,� Bailey said.