Suicide Prevention

If you have concerns when the counselor is not available please contact campus security at 203-773-8509. If you know someone or if you need immediate help, please call 911 or go directly to Yale emergency room.

Transitioning to college can be a difficult and lonely time. Students may feel overwhelmed with the increase in academic and social demands as well as living away from home. These experiences can lead to underlying feelings of depression. Untreated depression is one of the leading causes of suicide. Untreated depression and feeling helpless contribute to students feeling isolated and unable to consider coping skills outside of suicide.

Studies show that up to 75% of students who attempt suicide have demonstrated some type of behavioral or verbal warning sign. The student may appear as quiet, depressed, and socially withdrawn thus it is important that we reach out to the person and help them get the needed treatment.

Warning signs and risk factors are important to know and understand. If you are concern please reach out to the student and be honest and open about your concerns. Help the student get the help they need and follow up to make sure they are connected with services.

Warning signs and risk factors:

Feeling anxious and trapped
Feeling helpless and hopeless
Loss on interest and pleasure
Increase difficulties at school
Decrease interest in previous enjoyed activities
Increase in sleeping
Increase in missed class
Giving away favorite possessions
Increase writing or talking about death and dying

Withdrawing from significant others
Increase in substance abuse and risky behaviors
Family history of suicide
Previous history of suicide attempts
Family history of trauma
Recent lost in life
History of impulsive or aggressive behaviors
Threatening to kill or hurt oneself
Increase interest in seeking out medication, firearms, or other means

How to help someone you are concern about?

It can be overwhelming when someone is feeling suicidal. Even if the person ask you not to say anything it is important that you get outside help. There is no specific way to prevent someone from suicide but the below may help with decreasing the risk.

Begin by telling the person that you are concern about them and provide specific reasons why you are concern.

Be calm and non- judgmental.

Be accepting and let them know that you are taking their feelings and thoughts seriously.

Encourage them to share and ask them if they have a plan to hurt themselves (someone who has a plan is most at risk.)

Do not be afraid to ask them if they are thinking of committing suicide.

Do not leave them alone. If you need to call for help ask someone else to stay with them.

If you are concern about their immediate safety and it is in the evening follow up with your RA or DOD.

Do not attempt to problem solve or argue them out of their thoughts.

Encourage them talk and be an active listener.

Provide them with reasons to live ( family, children, successes in life, previous dreams, animals).

Encourage them to seek help. Ensure that they followed up with an appointment and outside help.

Remind them that depression is treatable.

If you think they are in immediate danger, please call 911 or take them to the local emergency room.

Available resources:

Suicide Prevention Hotline:1-800-273-TALK http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: (http://afsp.org/)

211 Helpline

The JED Foundation: (http://www.jedfoundation.org)

Suicide and Mental Health Association International (http://suicideand mentalhealthassociationinternational.org/CollStud.html)