Content Warning: This article contains details about suicide. If a person that you know has a plan or intent to complete suicide, please call 911 immediately. The National Suicide Crisis Line (available in English and Spanish) is 988, and support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and suicide is the second leading cause of death for college students ages 18 to 24 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention WISQARS Leading Causes of Death Report, 2021). Each year, according to the Journal of Affective Disorders, 1,100 students die by suicide and around 12 percent of students consider taking their own life during their time in college (Wilcox et. al, 2010).
This year, the Counseling Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is changing the narrative around suicide prevention. There will be a series of events as part of Suicide Prevention Month, starting on September 9 and running through October 6, 2024.
“The campus community at the U. of I. cares about the wellbeing of every student, and we want students, faculty and staff members to know that they are not alone,” said Carla J. McCowan, PhD, Director of the Counseling Center. “At the Counseling Center, we are committed to providing a broad range of high quality, innovative, and ethical services that address the psychological, educational, social, and developmental needs of Illinois students.”
Do you know someone who needs help? Take an active role in getting support for yourself, friends or other students, faculty and staff members. If it is an emergency that involves an imminent risk of harm to yourself or others, please contact the University of Illinois Police Department at 217-333-1216 or call 911.
Help is always available. You have options. There are many resources for managing your feelings and getting help for intrusive thoughts.
Notice the Warning Signs
When identifying if someone is in distress, it is important to remember the acronym, “Is the Path Warm?” (e.g., Isolation, Substance Abuse, Purposelessness, Anxiety, Trapped, Hopelessness, Withdrawal, Anger, Recklessness and Mood changes).
Seventy percent of all people who die by suicide provide clues about their intentions before an attempt is made. These clues can be found in everyday conversations when people directly state their intentions, provide detailed plans or show outward changes in their behavior.
Remaining calm, dealing directly with the topic of suicide and encouraging problem-solving and positive actions are all ways that you can support someone who is in distress. Most suicides can be prevented by sensitive responses to those in crisis.
“There’s a misperception that talking about suicide will make people think about and more actively consider it. That’s simply not true,” said McCowan. “It’s okay to ask people if they’re thinking about harming themselves. We need to shine the light on these misperceptions so that we can have honest conversations and reduce the stigma that exists around saying you are struggling and need help.”
Make an Appointment
The Counseling Center offers several resources for prevention and support. Same-day urgent appointments are available with clinicians during business hours. These one-time meetings are brief, lasting 15 to 30 minutes, and they focus on working with students who have thoughts of harming themselves or others or have recently experienced a traumatic event.
When making an appointment, individuals can call the Counseling Center for a same-day appointment, schedule an in-person appointment through an online portal or email an embedded counselor.
Embedded counselors meet students, faculty and staff where they work and live, offering counseling and outreach services to students, faculty and staff in most colleges on-campus and within University Housing residence halls. One of their informal outreach programs, Let’s Talk, is a 15-minute, informal consultation that provides space for individuals to learn about resources on- and -off-campus.
While the Counseling Center works with directly with Illinois students, Faculty/Staff Assistance and Wellbeing Services are available for U. of I. employees who may be struggling.
Submit a Referral
Any individual (e.g., friend, relative, faculty member, residence hall staff member) can submit a Suicide Incident Referral if they are aware of a student who has recently made a suicidal threat or attempt and is no longer in danger. Referrals are reviewed during business hours only. They are not monitored after hours, on weekends or on holidays. This form is not designed for emergency response situations.
Request or Complete Trainings
Culturally responsive outreach trainings from the Suicide Prevention Outreach Team (SPOT) are designed to help people recognize signs of distress, respond to students who are in distress and refer individuals to professional support. Request SPOT attendance at campus events.
Mindwise on Campus is a 30-minute online training simulation that will help students identify peers who are at risk for suicide, motivate distressed students to seek help and put students in touch with support services.
SOS for Higher Ed: Suicide Prevention for Students is a free training available for anyone affiliated with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. After taking this training on Canvas, an individual will be able to recognize signs of distress and suicide risk, learn how to encourage someone to seek help and gain skills for building strong peer connections.
Get Involved
Students can apply to become a Counseling Center Paraprofessional (CCP) during the fall semester. This training and outreach program is open to students from all departments on-campus from all majors. Students interested in making a difference can receive training in communication skills and gain practical experience in providing development and preventative services to their peers.
“The best way we can prevent suicide is talking about it,” said Lauren, a CCP and senior in the College of Applied Health Sciences at Illinois. “When we talk about our experiences, it shows us all that we all have tough times, and it makes it feel less lonely.”
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Urgent Resources
If a person has a plan or intent to complete suicide, please call 911 immediately.
National Suicide and Crisis Line (Available in English and Spanish) 988
Other Resources
Rosecrance Crisis Line: 217-359-4141, Local Crisis Line TTY: 217-352-4217
Crisis Text Line: (https://www.crisistextline.org/) or Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a volunteer Crisis Counselor
RACES Hotline (for sexual assault and stalking): 217-384-4444
Domestic Violence Hotline: 877-384-4390
The Trevor Lifeline (Suicide Prevention for LGBTQIA Individuals): 866-4-U-TREVOR (1-866-488-7386) or text START to 678-678.
Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
STEVE text line: Text 741741 to STEVE to connect with a trained crisis counselor who specializes in work with students of color.
Veterans’ Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255), press 1
University of Illinois Police Department Response, Evaluation, and Crisis Help (REACH): 217-333-1216 (non-emergencies)
References
Peterson C, Rice KL, Williams DD, Thomas R. WISQARS Cost of Injury for public health research and practice. Inj Prev. 2023 Apr;29(2):150-157. doi: 10.1136/ip-2022-044708. Epub 2022 Nov 17. PMID: 36396442; PMCID: PMC10033347.
Wilcox HC, Arria AM, Caldeira KM, Vincent KB, Pinchevsky GM, O'Grady KE. Prevalence and predictors of persistent suicide ideation, plans, and attempts during college. J Affect Disord. 2010 Dec;127(1-3):287-94. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2010.04.017. Epub 2010 May 14. PMID: 20471691; PMCID: PMC2924459.