Most people who are suicidal desperately want to live but are unable to find another way to cope with their thoughts or feelings.   

Learn About Suicide

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Find Help on Your Campus

If you need immediate help, please call 1 800 273-TALK (8255)

CHECK YOURSELF Use the Self e-Valuator, a confidential online mental health assessment.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS Hopelessness Rage, uncontrolled anger, or seeking revenge Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities, seemingly without thinking Feeling trapped – like there’s no way out Increased alcohol or drug use Withdrawing from friends, family and society Anxiety, agitation, unable to sleep or sleeping all the time Dramatic mood changes Expressing no reason for living or no sense of purpose in life Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide Should you witness, hear, or see anyone exhibiting any one or more of the following, IMMEDIATELY seek help by contacting a mental health professional, calling your college’s emergency number, or calling 1-800-273-8255(TALK), the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, for a referral: Someone threatening to hurt or kill him/herself, or talking of wanting to hurt or kill him/herself Someone looking for ways to kill him/herself by seeking access to firearms, available pills, or other means Someone talking or writing about death, dying or suicide, when these actions are out of the ordinary for the person

Are you experiencing any of these symptoms? Talk to someone today. Call 1-800-273 TALK or Find help at your school

About Suicide

Almost all college students who die by suicide are suffering from an emotional disorder, most commonly depression. Other emotional problems can increase the risk for suicide too, such as anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, substance abuse or eating disorders.

Identifying and treating these illnesses is especially important because someone with an untreated emotional disorder may be more likely to attempt suicide in the wake of a stressful event such as a death, relationship difficulties or a failed exam.

The most effective way to prevent suicide is to know the warning signs, take those signs seriously, and know how to respond when you experience them yourself or see them in a friend or classmate. The important thing to remember is that there is hope. People who are suicidal can be helped with the proper treatment.

Preventing Suicide

The best approach to treating suicidal individuals is to identify and treat any underlying mental disorder. Talk to your school’s counseling center or call 1-800-273-TALK if you are experiencing any of the symptoms below.

Many people who die by suicide have given definite warnings to family and friends of their intentions.  If you notice that someone you know talks about death or suicide, always take any comment about suicide seriously.

Most suicidal people are undecided about living or dying. This is called “suicidal ambivalence.” While a part of them wants to live, death seems like the only way out of their pain and suffering. They sometimes “gamble with death,” leaving it up to others to save them.

Discussing suicidal thoughts, if done with sympathy, tact, and respect, can make the person feel less alone and encourage them to get the help they need. Trying to cheer someone up might make them feel even more misunderstood and ashamed of their thoughts and feelings.  It is important to listen well and take them seriously.

Resources

Help is often available on or around campuses through the following resources:

• Student counseling center
• Student health service
• Resident hall director, dean, academic advisor, tutor, or faculty
• Campus religious or spiritual leader
• Community mental health center
• Local crisis center or hotlines

Find help on your campus now

For immediate assistance, contact these services:
United States:
National Suicide Prevention Hotline
With more than 130 crisis centers across the country, our mission is to provide immediate assistance to anyone seeking mental health services.
Helpline: (800) 273-8255 (TALK)

International:
Samaritans
Provides confidential non-judgmental emotional support, 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide – in the United Kingdom and in many other regions around the world

For further information:
American Association for Suicidology
Leader in the advancement of scientific and programmatic efforts in suicide prevention through research, education and training, the development of standards and resources, and survivor support services

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research and education, and to reaching out to people with mood disorders and those impacted by suicide

The Jed Foundation
Works nationally to reduce the rate of suicide and the prevalence of emotional distress among college and university students.

Mental Health America
Dedicated to helping ALL people live mentally healthier lives.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
The nation’s largest grassroots organization for people with mental illness and their families.
Helpline: (866) 615-6464

National Institute of Mental Health
News, overview, clinical trials, research, treatment, organizations on suicide provided by National Institute of Mental Health.

Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE)
Preventing suicide through public awareness and education, reduce stigma, and serving as a resource for those touched by suicide.

Suicide Prevention Action Network (SPAN)
Dedicated to preventing suicide through public education and awareness, community action and federal, state and local grassroots advocacy.

Suicide Prevention Resource Center
Provides prevention support, training, and resources to assist organizations and individuals to develop suicide prevention programs, interventions and policies, and to advance the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention.