Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Emergencies
On this page:
How to Seek Help
There are moments when stressors can become overwhelming, making it difficult to cope and manage effectively. This may lead to feelings of hopelessness and, for some, thoughts of suicide. It is not uncommon for individuals to experience such thoughts at some point in their lives. In fact, research indicates that 1 in 10 college students report having thoughts of suicide within the past year. If you are struggling with these thoughts, please reach out for support now.
If you are at immediate risk of harming yourself or someone else, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
Campus Resources
- Counseling and Wellness Services is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5 p.m. at 937-775-3407. Faculty, staff, and students are welcome to accompany another student to Counseling and Wellness Services, in 053 Student Union, if they are experiencing a mental health emergency to facilitate their meeting with a counselor.
- Call Raider Cares at 937-775-4567
- Raider Cares is Counseling and Wellness Services’ 24-hour crisis phone service staffed by off-site mental health professionals providing emotional support, assistance, crisis intervention, and suicide prevention to current Wright State University students.
- Public Safety at 937-775-2111 or 911
National Resources
- Text or call the National Suicide Prevention hotline at: 988
- Veterans Crisis Line: call 988 and press 1 or text 838255
- Text or call the Trevor Project (LGBTQ) at: 1-866-488-7386
- Text or WhatsApp the Crisis Text Line at: 741-741
Additional Resources
How to Help Someone Who May Be Suicidal
There is no single cause for suicide. Suicidal behavior is typically related to a person's feeling overwhelmed by one or more life stressors. Often, people contemplating suicide struggle with clinical depression, anxiety, and/or substance use problems. Often these conditions are undiagnosed and untreated and thus increase the likelihood that suicidal ideation will become suicidal behavior. Use the acronym A.S.K. from Active Minds to guide you when helping someone who may be suicidal
It only takes a minute to help prevent suicide.
Acknowledge
Start the conversation and set the tone by showing them your full attention. Let them know their feelings and experiences are valid and that you believe them.
Tips
- Tell them you are here to listen
- Let them know you care and believe them
- Focus on the conversation
Support
Show support by listening to them and affirming how they’re feeling.
Tips
- Be open to different ways of providing support
- Ask open-ended questions
- Let you friend take the lead in telling you what they need
- Listen before responding and repeat their feelings back to check your understanding
Keep-in-Touch
A.S.K. regularly and consistently. Make a plan for reconnecting.
If you are worried that a friend’s safety is at risk, use the crisis resources listed at the top of this page. You are allowed to call a crisis line for someone else!
Learn more about A.S.K. at activeminds.org
To learn more about recognizing warning signs of suicide, and how to have the conversation with a friend in need, join the Mental Health Peer Mentor program on campus.