Student Tribune
World Suicide Prevention Day: Highlighting Resources & Safety Tips
Tomorrow, Saturday, September 10th, is World
Suicide Prevention day for 2022, and we would like to highlight some
important safety tips and resources in advance of this important awareness
day.
We often hear a myth that talking about suicide will lead to or encourage
suicide in someone who is struggling with unsafe thoughts, however, this could
not be further from the truth. As a community, we should not be afraid to speak
up and ask if someone is feeling suicidal, and to help connect that individual
with needed help. We hope that the below tips will serve as a guide to help you
add more tools to your safety planning toolbox.
If someone is thinking about suicide, here are some action
steps to take to encourage safety (adapted from the Suicide Prevention Center
of New York State):
- Ask the person to make a promise to you not to do anything to harm
themself right now. Remind them that suicidal thoughts come and go and ask them
to contract for safety with you in the short-term.
- Keep in mind that substances such as alcohol and other drugs can
cause individuals to feel even more emotionally dysregulated.
- Make the home environment safe by removing anything that could be
used to harm self.
- Stay hopeful and be encouraging; people do get through this!
- If someone has disclosed unsafe thoughts to you, thank the person
for reaching out and trusting you to help. It takes strength and self-awareness
to disclose having suicidal thoughts.
- Help the individual contact their primary or mental health care
provider to make an appointment for as soon as possible.
- Remind the person of emergency services provider contacts,
including the option to call 911 or visit their local psychiatric emergency
department, if needed.
Emergency Supports & Resources:
A mental health emergency is a situation where there is imminent risk of
danger to self or others. If you or someone else is experiencing an emergency,
please immediately contact one of the resources below, which are available 24
hours a day.
- On-campus – MCC Public Safety (585)
292-2911
- Off-campus – Dial 911
- 211 / Lifeline – Dial 211 for resources in Monroe, Wayne,
Cayuga, Ontario, Livingston, and Seneca counties
- Monroe County Mobile Crisis Team – (585) 529-3721
- Local hospital emergency department
- 988 (formerly National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) – Call or
text 988, or chat 988lifeline.org
- Crisis Text Line – Text “HOME” to 741741
- Please refer to Monroe County
website for additional mental health and substance use resource
information.
MCC Counseling Center staff will be conducting counseling appointments
throughout the month of September and beyond. Our goal is to provide solution
focused, brief intervention in support of positive coping and problem solving
during what may be a difficult and uncertain time as students return and/or
acclimate to campus. Whether students are new to the office or they have worked
with us in the past, we encourage them to reach out if they are in need of
additional support.
We wish you all the best as you take on this new semester!
Warmly,
MCC Counseling Center & Disability Services Team
Kennell, Morgan
Counseling Center & Disability Services
08/31/2022