"Ask a Question, Save a Life" was the theme of UT's 2007 VolAware. The UT Safety, Environment and Education Center, the UT Counseling Center, and WBIR-TV hosted the two-day event on Oct. 8 and 9.

The event targeted mental health awareness, wellness and suicide prevention. It opened with a booth competition and the showing of the movie "Reign Over Me". The film produced "a mixture of laughing and crying" in the audience, said Megan MacNamara, a graduate student and practicum counselor.

The mental health screenings really are a good thing for anyone who takes advantage of them. Keita-Thomas, doctoral intern Several QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) training sessions were held. These sessions provided the skills necessary to effectively and directly ask and help someone if they are suicidal.

VolAware included many interactive programming options including yoga and wellness demonstrations, Latin dance classes, chair massages, Rape Aggression Defense classes and an inner child play center.

The mental health screenings were conducted by providers from across the region on Tuesday Oct. 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. They were also available on-line.

"I met with someone last week, and she took the mental health questionnaire online, and it recommended she come in and speak with someone," said Damafing Keita-Thomas, a doctoral intern with the Student Counseling Services Center. "The mental health screenings really are a good thing for anyone who takes advantage of them."