Group to spread message of ‘Love’

More than 31,000 people liked the “Love is Louder” Facebook page, and they’ve posted a combined 1,000 pictures. These photographs are by people young and old, men and women, famous and not famous, with the words “Love is Louder” displayed on hands, paper hearts and even a baby’s onesie. An Evening with Brittany Snow

William Pitt Union Assembly Room

Today, 8:30 to 11:30 p.m., doors open at 8 p.m.

Tickets free for students with ID

More than 31,000 people liked the “Love is Louder” Facebook page, and they’ve posted a combined 1,000 pictures. These photographs are by people young and old, men and women, famous and not famous, with the words “Love is Louder” displayed on hands, paper hearts and even a baby’s onesie.

The campaign began in September, formed by actress Brittany Snow, MTV and Courtney Knowles, executive director of the Jed Foundation, a nonprofit focused on preventing student suicides.

Snow will discuss her own struggles with emotional health in a talk sponsored by the Pitt Program Council, Active Minds and the Division of Student Affairs at 8:30 p.m. in the William Pitt Union Assembly Room.

Snow and Knowles will also discuss the “Love is Louder” movement.

The goal of their movement is to have high school and college students remember the phrase “love is louder” when they’re feeling bullied, isolated or depressed. That will be the message they will pass on at today’s event.

“Love is Louder” was formed as a response to several publicized suicides across the country. To promote the movement, its creators have visited schools throughout the country.

Snow feels a personal connection to the cause. She told MTV that she experienced bullying in school and faced difficult times afterwards and that a good friend had committed suicide in high school.

The roots of the Jed Foundation are similarly related to the tragedy of suicide. The group was started by Phil and Donna Satow in 2000 after their son committed suicide.

The Jed Foundation’s publicist, Lindsey Brown, said the group hopes to “reduce emotional distress and prevent suicide among college students.”

Since its inception, the foundation has reached more than 1,500 universities through various programs, including an online resource center called ULifeline.

The event has already garnered support from University organizations, including Active Minds and the Talk About It Campaign, student groups that promote mental health discussion.

“This is in line with the kind of awareness we try to spread and is an easy way for students to get involved. Bullying and other related topics can lead to disorders like depression. Hearing and believing that love is louder can be helpful to any student in need,” said Jessica Stillman, the president of Pitt’s Active Minds organization.

Loveislouder.com encourages students to take part in spreading the message. Last November, the organization encouraged people to have “Love is Louder” parties or to meet at a particular time at one of several international LOVE statues, four of which are located in Pennyslvania, and cheer “Love is Louder.”

Brown sent this message from Snow, stating: “We are so humbled and excited that the Love is Louder message is being embraced by so many people. We want to help people understand why it’s so important to take care of their emotional health and to help others by being accepting, supportive and looking out for warning signs of a problem. We want to inspire people to turn the Love is Louder message into actions.”

Active Minds hopes that Snow’s celebrity will help Pitt students feel comfortable telling their own stories.

“Students who attend the event on Monday will experience a very personal feel from Brittany [Snow]’s speech and will hopefully understand that if she can share her story and talk about these issues, so can everyone else,” said Kailey Bedford, vice president of Active Minds.