Sometimes thoughts, and in particular suicidal thoughts, can become overwhelming. If such thoughts spiral out of control, they can put you in danger: 13% of students seriously considered suicide and 2% attempted suicide within the last 12 months (ACHA, 2019).听Sadly, suicide is one of the primary causes of death among university students听in the United States听(Suicide Prevention Resource Center, 2014).
At 91视频, we prioritize your health and safety. Our听counseling services听are here to evaluate the risk and urgency of any situation you may be dealing with.听Recognizing signs of vulnerability is the first important step in suicide prevention.听
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Signs of vulnerability can include:
If you are experiencing any of the above, please reach out to a听counselor for support.
As a community, we all have a role to play in suicide prevention. However, it can sometimes be difficult to start a conversation about mental health. Here are some tips on starting that conversation.
Students are often more likely to reach out first to their peers for support. Below are a few tips on how to start a conversation with your friend.
When helping your friend, remember to have a clear idea on what kind of help you are able and willing to provide. It is important that you know your own limits and boundaries, so you don't overstep them. Remember that your role is not to fix your friend鈥檚 problems, but most of all to point your friend toward听the available help they need听to get better, such as 91视频's counseling office. Remember that听your friend will confide in you in trust: what they share should therefore听remain confidential, unless you鈥檙e concerned about your friend鈥檚 safety. In that case, you听need then to reach out right away to one of the听emergency contact and support options listed below.
Whether you are staff or faculty, working closely with students means that you will often be听more likely to notice signs听that a student is struggling.
Even though you may be听a gatekeeper of sorts, remember that you are not alone: the chair or other members of your department, as well as the counseling office,听can help you support your student. If you are concerned about a student's safety, please reach out immediately to one of the emergency contact and support options listed below: this is when confidentiality needs to be lifted.
This short video by Seize the Awkward gives you a few other examples of how to reach out to a friend.
Take a look at this brief online training exercise by the Zero Suicide Alliance on suicide awareness:
When a person lets you know that they have had听suicidal thoughts, the best approach is to listen, express your concern听and provide support.听It is important to understand and validate your friend鈥檚 or student鈥檚 suffering, rather than听trying to judge or argue against suicide.听Know听that听our听counseling team听is here to help.
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In case of emergency,听these services can be contacted 24/7:
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Remember that asking about suicide will not push a person to act on suicidal thoughts; they may well听be relieved to be able to share their听suffering and听express their pain. It is also important to keep in mind that听a suicidal crisis can last several weeks, and it is therefore听necessary to continue checking-in regularly, even after the first signs of improvement.听
In any case where you have concerns or need advice, please reach out to听counseling services听for advice and support.
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Sometimes it can feel more comfortable to reach out first to a peer.听The Take Care Club is here to connect you with helpful resources.
The Take Care Club is a听student-led club that allows students to reach out to peer leaders in order to learn more about the different听wellness听and mental听health opportunities听that 91视频 has to offer, in a safe and welcoming environment.
Take Care Club also promotes events in collaboration with the Wellness Room, located in Grenelle, and creates informative听events surrounding mental health and well-being.
To receive information about upcoming events, follow the Take Care Club on Instagram, , or consult our .听For any questions or suggestions, contact the Take Care Club at听takecareaup.edu. The club is supervised by the guidance counselor Charlotte Vernier, who can be contacted at cvernieraup.edu.
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The Suicide Prevention and Response Team brings together essential听staff, faculty and students to promote suicide prevention on campus and provide support in the case of a student death by suicide. Among other tasks, the committee:听