Suicide Prevention Resources

• Reach out. Let them know they are not alone in feeling this way and that it is ok to ask for help.
• Start a conversation. “I’m worried about you because you seem…” (e.g., sad, isolated, etc). Be specific about what you notice. “It concerned me when you said…”
  • Ask calmly with open-ended questions and use I-statements.
• Offer to listen and listen without judgment.
  • “Do you want to talk about it?”
  • “What can I do to help?"
• Connect them with campus resources. Refer them to the Student Counseling Service (513-529-4634) or Dean of Students (513-529-1877).
• Never be afraid to give your friend a call, pay a visit, or send them a message to let them know you are concerned.
• Ask directly if they have thoughts of suicide.
  • Asking does not plant the idea in someone’s head.
  • Communicate verbally and nonverbally that it is safe to answer honestly.
  • Ask if they have a plan, materials, and a timeline.
  • By reaching out to a friend, you are not attempting to fix your friend’s problems, but to connect them to support services.
  • Call 9-1-1 if your friend is in imminent danger of harming themselves.
  • Know your limits and seek help for yourself.

Want to help in a bigger sense, too? See info about our Mental Health First Aid and QPR Trainings. Remember: Suicide is preventable!

*Adapted from the “Help a Friend in Need” publication- The JED Foundation, Facebook, and Clinton Foundation.

• Talking about suicide or wanting to die. “I want out.” “Everyone would be better off without me.” “There is no reason to live.”
• Talking about feeling alone, hopeless, isolated, useless, or a burden to others. “I don’t want to get out of bed…ever.” “Leave me alone.”
• Showing irritability and hostility that is out of character.
• Impulsive behaviors. Driving recklessly, increase in substance use, or taking other risks.
• Withdrawal from or change in everyday activities Intense and urgent emotional despair or intense guilt or shame. “I can’t take this pain anymore.” “There is no way out.”  “I’m a failure.”
  • Not going to class, drop in grades, missed assignments.
  • Change in appetite and sleep.
  • Low energy, concentration, or motivation.
  • Neglect of health and self-care.
• Showing rage or seeking revenge. “I’ll show you all. You’ll be sorry.”
• Saying goodbyes, giving away personal possessions.
• Glorifying death or making death seem heroic.
• Posting distressing messages, emoticons, or content on social media.
• Asking where/how to get potentially lethal means such as access to pills or weapons.

*Adapted from the “Help a Friend in Need” publication- The JED Foundation, Facebook, and Clinton Foundation.

Suicide Prevention Team

The mission of the Suicide Prevention Team (SPT; part of Miami University Student Counseling Service) is to plan, coordinate, and implement suicide prevention activities. Based on a primary prevention model, the objectives of these activities are to educate and inform our campus community about factors contributing to suicide, support peer-led efforts to intervene when a fellow student is in distress (consistent with Miami’s values of Love & Honor), and provide support for the campus community in the area of student emotional health. We will work toward this mission through the objectives listed below.

1. Provide suicide prevention information on campus to increase help-seeking among students (e.g., plan and coordinate Suicide Prevention Week events in the fall semester and stress reduction activities in the spring semester; use social media to promote mental health screenings and phone apps designed to allow quick access to local support resources). 
2. Collaborate with fellow team members and other campus units to best utilize resources to prevent suicide (e.g., peer educators from the Office of Student Wellness providing suicide prevention training to their peers; assist SPT faculty members with suicide prevention research projects). 
3. Ensure the highest quality and most effective suicide prevention efforts for the campus community by using best practices and evidence-based research to inform and coordinate our activities and encourage collaboration with partners.
4. Coordinate mental health gatekeeper training programming for the campus community to educate gatekeepers about how to identify, respond, and refer those in distress to the appropriate resources.

Are you interested in joining the Suicide Prevention Team? Please review the listed below and to sign up, contact Jennifer Young, Ph.D., co-chair of the Suicided Prevention Team.