Mental Health and Well-being

• Hopelessness
• Rage, anger, seeking revenge
• Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities, seemingly without thinking
• Feeling trapped – like there's no way out
• Increasing alcohol or drug use
• Withdrawing from friends, family or society
• Anxiety, agitation, unable to sleep, or sleeping all the time
• Dramatic mood changes
• No reason for living; no sense of purpose in life

When you should be highly concerned if someone:

• States “I want to kill myself”
  
• Having a plan or looking for means to kill themselves
  
• Extreme self-neglect (prolonged lack of hygiene, not eating for extended periods of time)
• Disconnected with reality (disorganized thoughts or speech, hallucinations, supernatural beliefs)
• Cutting with serious or neglected wounds, violent behavior

When you should be concerned, but not emergent if someone:

• Expresses thoughts of suicide with no plans to act
• Withdrawn, short term appetite loss
• Short term lack of sleep
• Frequent crying
• Cutting with superficial wounds, angry mood

Don’t be alone in your concerns. Tell a supervisor, RA, advisor, etc. about your concern. You can always contact the Counseling Center to discuss with a professional to gain insight and advice on how to address your concern.

If you have a friend in need, let them know you are willing to help if they need it. Here are a few ways you can help:

• Show you care.
• Make yourself aware of resources and reporting.
• Share a personal positive experience of seeking help, it can make the situation less threatening.
  
• Respect their limits.
• Offer to go to the Counseling Center with them or sit nearby while they make the phone call.
• If someone does not want help, you can call the Counseling Center and speak to a counselor to get additional ideas for future conversations.

Learn More about providing support

• Ask. Be specific about your concerns when talking to them. “You haven’t left your room in over a week.”
  
• Express care and concern.
• Make time and space for the conversation. Do it in a safe, private space and make sure you have time to talk to them.
  
• Ask if and how you can help them. Remember that you don’t have to be their counselor. You can always call the Counseling Center and speak to a counselor to get additional ideas for future conversations.
  
• Don’t beat around the suicide bush. If you are picking up on thoughts of suicide, ask them about it directly.
  
• Encourage or assist them in seeking help, if needed.
  
• Refer them to the Counseling Center or other help centers.
• Share with others the risk and preventative factors of suicide.
• Reinforce preventative actions individuals can take if they are having thoughts of suicide or know someone who may be.
  
• Educate yourself on the warning signs of suicide and become an advocate by Starting The Conversation with other individuals.
  
• Provide concrete steps for finding help. Inform the person that help is available through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and through established service providers and crisis centers.