September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Suicide is a leading cause of death for people ages 10-64 in the US. In 2020, there were 45,979 suicides. Suicide impacts us all on some level. It’s important to learn the warning signs of suicide and have resources at the ready. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with some of the warning signs and know that you can always reach out to the counselors here at WCC for help. You never know, you could be the person to save someone’s life.
What are the warning signs of suicide?
Talking about:
- Wanting to die
- Great guilt or shame
- Being a burden to others
Feeling:
- Empty, having no reason to live
- Hopeless, trapped
- Extremely sad, more anxious, agitated or full of rage
- Unbearable emotional pain
Changes in behavior such as:
- Planning or researching ways to die
- Withdrawing from others, saying goodbye, giving away prized possessions
- Taking dangerous risks such as driving extremely fast
- Displaying extreme mood swings
- Eating or sleeping more or less than usual
- Using drugs or alcohol more often than usual
Resources
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger of killing themselves call 911. If you or a friend are dealing with suicidal thoughts and concerned about your/their mental health, please know that the Personal Counselors here at WCC are here to help. We offer short-term solution- focused counseling to currently enrolled students. If you need help after hours, please use the following resources.
833-WCC 4 YOU(833-922-4968) – a 24/7 helpline for WCC students that provides support and referrals
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255); Veterans, press “1”
Text HOME to 741741 to access a trained crisis counselor. Or Text STEVE to 741741 for a culturally trained crisis counselor.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Suicide Prevention Resource Center
Faculty, Staff & Student QPR Training
Interested in learning ways to help those who are thinking about suicide? Join the WCC Personal Counselors in a nationally recognized suicide prevention training called QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer).
Faculty and staff registration for this workshop is available through KALPA. Students should email WCC counselor Erin Goldman directly at [email protected] to register for a workshop. (Dates and times below.)
QPR is an evidence-based gatekeeper training. It is designed for anyone in the community to use, to recognize the warning signs that someone might be thinking about suicide, and have a conversation with the person at risk and get them to someone who can help them further, like a mental health professional.
As many of you know, there are sometimes conversations with someone and you have a "gut feeling" that they're struggling more than they're saying. It's hard to know what to say, and whether or not you should ask them directly about suicide. QPR is specifically about these types of conversations. It will give you the skills to feel more confident in those conversations.
What you will learn:
- How to recognize early warning signs that someone may be thinking about suicide
- Words and phrases to say to say to offer support and hope
- How to connect them to someone who can assess their safety and make a plan to keep them safe
Dates of Training: (All workshops will be in LA 229)
- Tuesday, Sept. 13: 3:30-5 p.m. (faculty and staff)
- Thursday, Sept. 15: 11:30-1 p.m. (students only)
- Thursday, Sept. 22: 11:30-1 p.m. (open to all)
Another Way to Get Involved
To honor those who we have lost to suicide, and to help raise awareness, please consider joining the WCC Wolfpack Walking Team. Every year the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention hosts "Out of the Darkness" community walks. Join us at 1 p.m. on September 25 at Hudson Mills Metro Park in Dexter.