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Resource Kit for Suicide Prevention - Student Health Center

Know the Warning Signs

IS PATH WARM?

According to the American Association of Suicidology, an individual at acute risk for suicidal behavior will most often display some or many of the following signs:

• I Ideation
• S Substance abuse
  
  
• P Purposelessness
• A Anxiety
• T Trapped
• H Hopelessness
  
  
• W Withdrawal
• A Anger
• R Recklessness
• M Mood Change

Take Action

1. First, consult with the Emergency Response Team (Ron Travenick, Sally Bratton, Rosemary O'Neill, Steve Osawa) to notify them of your concern.
   Then:
2. Inform the student of your concern.

Starting the Conversation with a Student

It is an understandable and appropriate response if you feel nervous or anxious about the prospect of speaking with a student about your concern for him/her. Knowing that you may be the first and critical contact offering assistance and help to the student in distress may be daunting. However, your efforts greatly improve the student’s continuing safety and future well-being.

Speak with the student in a location where the conversation will be private, e.g., after class or during office hours.

Initial statements or inquiries that are open-ended may encourage the student to speak, such as:

"I’ve worked (as a teacher or staff) in a campus setting for a number of years and have heard from students that the college experience can sometimes be difficult. I’m wondering how you are doing?"

• Be positive and offer the student hope that treatment is necessary.
• Offer resource and referral information to the student.
• Develop a plan with the student to seek help.
• Initiate referral contact.
• Walk student to Student Health Center or call over there at for assistance [(510) 659-6258]. Do not let the student leave your office without notifying the Emergency Response Team.

Resources

Here are some off campus resources we trust to provide thought and accurate guidance to those concerned about suicidal feelings and behaviors.

• (800) 309-2131 (toll free) - 24-Hour Crisis Hotline by Crisis Support Services of Alameda County offers confidentiality, TDD services for Deaf and hard-of-hearing callers, and translation in 140 languages.

  • Fremont/Newark/Union City (510) 794-5211
  • Livermore Valley/Pleasanton (510) 449-5566
  • Hayward/Castro Valley (510) 889-1333
  • Oakland/Berkeley (510) 849-2212
  • Grief Counseling (510) 889-1104
  • www.crisissupport.org/home

• 24/7, toll free, confidential hotline by Nationwide Suidice Prevention Lifeline

  • (800) SUICIDE [(800) 784-2433)]
  • (800) 273-TALK [(800) 273-8255]
  • www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

• An excellent resource for persons experiencing suicidal thoughts:
  If you are thinking about suicide…read this first -
  This compelling, well-written website offers a variety of alternatives to suicide and strategies for increasing effective coping: www.metanoia.org/suicide

• ULifeline - Ohlone College - Take a quick test, talk to someone, learn about mental health.
  www.ulifeline.org/schools/ohlone

• Crisis Services - NAMI Alameda County [National Alliance on Mental Illness] - Mental health resources in Alameda County.
  www.nami-alamedacounty.org/id30.htm

• BASCIA - Bay Area Suicide and Crisis Intervention Alliance - 24-hour crisis counseling, emotional support, and information on community resources to thousands of local people in distress.
  www.bascia.org