Though depression and suicide occur frequently in college communities, one organization wants to clear up the misconceptions many may have about mental health.

Nu�i’s Space, an Athens nonprofit support and resource center for the music community, is hosting its third annual Depression and Suicide Awareness Week.

Events include a stressbuster event Tuesday night at Reed Quad, a free movie screening on Thursday night at Ciné and a Friday benefit concert at Nu�i’s Space, featuring bands such as Hope for Agoldensummer, Marie McCollum, a senior from Thomasville and intern for Nu�i’s Space, said.

The theme for this year’s awareness week is “Depression has many faces,” Alyssa Bernstein, a University graduate and the intern coordinator for Nu�i’s Space, said.

“Depression doesn’t discriminate, no matter how many zeros you may have in your paycheck, it can affect you.”

Suicide is the second leading cause of violence-related deaths among 18- to 24-year-olds, according to 2005 research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The goals for the awareness week include opening the dialogue about suicide and depression.

“We just want to raise awareness and take away the stigma that depression has, because not everyone can feel like they can talk about it,” McCollum said. “It’s such an important issue that needs to be talked about on college campuses.”

“[Suicide] is the second leading cause of death on college campuses. It is something so prevalent, and people are so misinformed about it,” Bernstein said. “It’s important to take care of ourselves and create a more educated idea and understanding of depression.”

Nu�i’s Space is named in honor of Nu�i Phillips, a 22-year-old University student and musician who killed himself in 1996 after suffering from depression. His family created Nu�i’s Space and the Nu�i Phillips Memorial Foundation in response to his life and to help serve local musicians, Bernstein said.

Nu�i’s story is an example of how prevalent depression can be, Bernstein said.

“[Nu�i Phillips] wasn’t poor or abused and didn’t do drugs. He came from a healthy family intact … it’s just an example of no matter where you come from or the environment you grow up in, depression is a real disease and can affect anyone,” she said.