To Write Love on Her Arms visits UCF

The room was intensely emotional one moment and filled with laughter and clapping the next – all eyes brimming with hope and inspiration.

Jamie Tworkowski, creator and founder of To Write Love on Her Arms, spoke to students about depression, anxiety, self-injury and suicide prevention on Monday at 8 p.m. in the Student Union Cape Florida Ballroom.

With more than 160,000 letters, emails and MySpace messages pouring in from more than 100 different countries, TWLOHA has created a sense of belonging and community.

TWLOHA launched in Orlando in the spring of 2006 as a way to tell Renee Yohe's story and to help her pay for drug treatment by selling T-shirts, Tworkowski, said.

"For the organization, the goal is to save lives and to encourage people to lean on other people and to get the help they need and deserve," Tworkowski said.

Sponsored by the Campus Activities Board, this event is one of many international TWLOHA college presentations. Not only did the TWLOHA begin in Orlando, but Tworkowski has lived in Orlando two different times and attended UCF, although he did not graduate from the university.

"Central Florida is home for us," Tworkowski said, "and it is a privilege to be here."

The night began with musical performances by Damion Suomi and the Minor Prophets. Music has fueled this non-profit movement from the beginning and TWLOHA has been supported by bands including Switchfoot, Anberlin, and Paramore.

Music has a unique ability to make people feel alive and there is something very magical and powerful about it, Tworkowski said.

Kelly Riordan, a senior communication sciences and disorders major as well as secretary of the TWLOHA club, has suffered from anxiety and depression in the past.

"In high school, my friends and I counted scars on each other's wrists to make sure there was nothing new," Riordan said.

She shared her testimony on the Renee movie set, a film based on Yohe and TWLOHA's story, which releases in 2012.

Licensed mental health counselor, Aaron Moore, discussed the cultural stigmas attached to depression and other issues. The stigma of mental health is considered a disgrace and these are issues that need to be talked about, Moore said.

"Everyone needs and deserves a group of friends and then I strongly believe in pointing to counseling and treatment when the problems are intense," Tworkowski said.

Denny Kolsch, a TWLOHA staff member, shared his story of his spiraling heroin addiction and his journey to a sober lifestyle.

"In a place of shame is where your demons grow," Kolsch said. "Every day has to be a choice of community and not isolation."

TWLOHA hopes to continue to be creative in delivering a message of hope and help to people all over the world, Tworkowski said.

"I love that we run in a few different circles at once - from the Internet to college campuses to music to retail to surfing," Tworkowski said. "My hope is that will continue. The bottom line is that we speak to issues that affect people, so we have to bring our message to people."

Jennifer Ostrander, a junior marketing major and vice president of the TWLOHA club, has found comfort in TWLOHA after her younger cousin committed suicide two years ago.

Ostrander hopes to spread the word about TWLOHA in the UCF community and beyond, so that no family will have to endure the loss she experienced.

"The issues TWLOHA face are often over-stigmatized in the media," Ostrander said, "and I believe it is important for people to know that they have a place of community to discuss these pressing issues and that they are not alone in their battle."

The lie and stigma that comes with issues such as depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide is that if you're dealing with it, you're alone and you're not allowed to talk about, Tworkowski said.

"The truth is pain is part of being alive on this planet. We all deal with it," Tworkowski said. "We need to know we're not alone. People need other people."

For more information about TWLOHA, visit http://www.twloha.com.