SAN MARCOS ---- Suicide is a touchy subject. Just ask Chris Sanchez.

The 18-year-old Cal State San Marcos student said he tried to take his life when he was 15. Now, he and a small group of students at the university have committed themselves to working with their peers to prevent suicide.

"Our mission is to encourage the prevention of suicide on campus," Sanchez said. "It's not a subject that is often talked about because it's so sensitive. We need to make students aware that we are there to help them and suicide is not a solution. You can talk about it and come out and not hide."

Sanchez, with student Lindsay Hilz, formed the campus chapter of the Yellow Ribbon Club last fall. The club is part of the national Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program which reaches out to an international audience and serves all 50 states, as well as 48 other countries. The organization offers seminars for youths and adults, and teaches suicide awareness and prevention strategies.

Since the club is new to campus, members are looking at different ways to raise funds for various programs. From 6 to 9 tonight, the club will partner with Cold Stone Creamery, at 1158 W. San Marcos Blvd., to raise money. The club will be passing out fliers and, for each person that brings a flier to the ice cream counter to buy something, 25 percent of the proceeds will go to the club.

Sanchez said he hopes that the fund-raiser will bring in at least $100 for the club. The money will go toward campus events, guest speakers and a banner that raises student awareness of the club.

Hilz, 21, said raising awareness is one of the club's key goals.

A human development and counseling major, Hilz said she lost a friend to suicide when she was 15 and she has continually worked on suicide prevention.

"It has been proven that, when you first go to college, you are more likely to be depressed because you are away from home, out of the state, away from your parents and around new people," Hilz said. "This causes a lot of stress and it can be depressing. We want people to know there is a club and a program that can help get you through that, especially for freshmen."

The club has already distributed magnets to parents and students living in dorms at the college. The magnets include phone numbers where people can get help and suicide warning signs such as sadness, unusual eating patterns, antisocial behavior, giving away possessions and obsession with death.

The club also wants to get the word out that the campus counseling center provides seven free visits each semester so students can get help from professionals.

"I can't be a counselor, but I can be a link," Hilz said.

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death in young people in California between the ages of 15 and 24, according to the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program's Web site. Children between the ages of 10 and 14 are the fastest growing group of people committing suicide. A 1999 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study showed that at least 30 percent of 10th-grade girls have seriously considered suicide.

University police Lt. Aaron Woodard said that in the three years he has worked at Cal State San Marcos, there have been no suicides.

Sanchez said he spent six months in therapy after his suicide attempt. He said people never realize how much suicide can affect their family and friends.

"In a religious sense, God has given me a second chance," said Sanchez, who majors in biochemistry. "I had to ask myself, what I am going to do with that second chance? For me, that's the Yellow Ribbon Club."

For information about the San Diego chapter of the Yellow Ribbon Club, visit www.yellowribbonsd.org.