A crowd gathers outside MTSU to honor a student who died Monday

Nearly 2,000 people gathered Wednesday night for a prayer vigil on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University following the death of a 21-year-old student on campus.

President of MTS Sidney McPhee announced that the campus would be closed the following day to allow students and faculty to access university-provided counseling services and other support resources.

The evening was held in front of the MTSU James E. Walker Library.

The Murfreesboro Police Department on Wednesday identified the student, identified as Serenity Birdsong, who committed suicide in the university’s library.

Attendees included students listening to speeches by MTSU President Sidney McPhee, faculty, club sponsors and friends. A lot of hugging. Some carried bouquets of flowers.

Others displayed placards, such as one that read, “The world is better with trans people in it,” held by senior biology major Kitty Johnson. She attended the vigil with her boyfriend Jayden Smith, a biology student.

“I thought it was beautiful,” Johnson said. “I was amazed at how many people came out.”

“We lost a beautiful soul”

McPheeStudent Government Association President Mihai Mosby, MT Lambda President Elizabeth Kennan-Knight and Tynaz Thompson, Campus Housing Officer, spoke at the vigil.

“We’ve lost a beautiful soul,” Thompson said, noting that Birdsong, who served as Lambda’s vice president and was part of the residential staff, demonstrated “the power of kindness.”

“I knew we lost someone very important,” Kannan-Knight said.

Mosby encouraged his fellow students to support each other.

“You are not alone,” Mosby said. “You can ask for help.”

McPhee also offered encouragement and said to let others know you care.

“Every person is precious and valuable,” he said.

The counseling service of MTSU encourages students to apply for help

MTSU Counseling Director Dr. Mary Kay Anderson said the student suicide is the first she has learned about on campus in her 15-year career at the university.

“It’s heartbreaking when this happens to your community,” said Anderson, a psychologist who spent part of Wednesday visiting classrooms affected by the student’s death.

Anderson leads a team of six consultants. Counseling services remained available Tuesday, along with other essential services, after MTSU President Sidney McPhee announced Monday that classes, the library and most offices would be closed Tuesday following the student’s death.

The university also offers recaps for employees, said Anderson, who joined the counseling services staff in 2009 and accepted a promotion to director in 2018.

An expert shares the alarming signs of suicide

Anderson mentioned the following set of warning signs over a period of time for someone who is having suicidal thoughts:

personality changes, such as going from cheerful to angry and irritable
experiencing chronic sadness and hopelessness
low energy, constant fatigue and lots of sleep
change in work level, for example, not going to class or turning in assignments
give away your personal belongings
be vague about how they feel and make comments like “I might not be around next week” or “It doesn’t matter because I might not be around”

If someone hears a friend comment that suggests suicide, ask the friend what the comment means, Anderson said.

“Offer to go with them to the Counseling Center,” Anderson said. “Encourage them to leave.”

Although more people are learning early in school to seek mental health care when needed, the stigma of seeing that treatment as a weakness remains for others, Anderson said.

Mental health is as important as physical health. Psychological care should be considered as acceptable and normal as medical care for a broken foot,” Anderson said.

“It’s not weakness to ask for help,” Anderson said. “This is a sign of strength. It shows that you actively take care of your health.”

Contact reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions at [email protected]. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, subscribe to a digital subscription.

MTSU provides information on accessing counseling services

Crisis support for students through MTSU Counseling Serviceslocated in Keathley University Centre.
MTSU’s crisis hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-704-2651;
The three-digit suicide hotline is available 24 hours a day at 988;
The Center for counseling and psychological service can be reached at 615-898-2271;
Employees also have 24/7 support through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by Optum Behavioral Health at 855-437-3486.