Armed with love

In support of those struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide, millions of people around the world will have the word “love” emblazoned on their arms today.

It’s part of a movement sponsored by the nonprofit organization To Write Love on Her Arms, which has inspired numerous UNC students to participate.

Freshman Chloe Snider, who participated in the event last year, said she originally discovered To Write Love on Her Arms through a friend. She really understood the illness after one of her family members was recently diagnosed with depression, she said.

“When I was younger, stuff like suicide and depression was really unfamiliar, and I didn’t understand it,” she said. “I’ve even heard others say that depression isn’t a real illness — that it’s just people pouting and complaining about their lives. But it’s real. It’s a real problem.”

Snider also said she is participating to support people who are having a hard time adjusting to college life.

“I’ve met some people here who are depressed, especially freshmen,” she said. “But there is always strength in numbers. The more people there are who participate today, the more people who have this problem can be encouraged as they go through hard times.”

A fellow UNC student, who is also participating in the event today and asked to remain anonymous, said he has dealt with depression and self-injury.

“I would take a knife and cut into my ankle because that’s the only way that people wouldn’t see it,” he said. “When I was watching TV with my family once, the wounds opened up and started bleeding.”

The freshman said the main precipitating factor in his stage of self-harm, which lasted for about six months in high school, was his overwhelming depression and insecurity.

“The main times it helped were when I was so depressed I was not able to feel much of anything,” he said. “I was stagnant and numb. It hurts you. It’s damaging, and it’s completely not a good thing to do. But for a moment, it gets you out of that state.”

He also said the media influenced his behavior.

Eventually, though, he was able to open up to his parents and friends about his struggles, and they have remained supportive.

His personal struggles with depression and self-harm influenced him to write love on his arms today. But the main reason he’s participating and letting others know, he said, is to help those struggling right now.

“It’s important to show support for the people that are going through that and to let them know that they’re not alone,” he said. “People do it a lot because they need support, though they’re not going about it the right way.”



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