National Suicide Prevention Week 2023

September 10-16 is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Week. This week is a time to renew our focus on learning about suicide prevention, and ensure we are taking care of ourselves & others. Our hope is to encourage conversations and spread awareness in an effort to prevent suicide across the JMU campus and beyond.

This week take time to learn how you can support our community and be a part of suicide prevention at JMU. Find out more below about the mental health & crisis support resources available. And, don’t forget, take care of your own mental health.

During National Suicide Prevention Month/Week, look out for Counseling Center sponsored events happening around campus:

• Monday, 9/4
  • Visit the CC's info table, First Floor of the SSC, 3:00-4:30pm
• Tuesday, 9/5
  • Presentation: Reducing the Risk of Suicide at JMU, SSC 3240, 11:00am-12:00pm
• Friday, 9/8
  • Visit the CC's info table, First Floor of the SSC, 3:00-4:30pm
• Monday, 9/11
  • Presentation: Reducing the Risk of Suicide at JMU, SSC 3240, 10-11am
  • Visit the CC's info table, Lower Level of Festival, 3:00-4:30pm
• Friday, 9/15
  
  • Licensed Professional Counselor and Non-Profit Founder, April Hepler, presents: Finding Your People: Healthy Relationships as a Foundational Component of Happiness, Grafton Stovall Theatre, 10:30-11:30am

Explore our Counseling Center's website to learn more about suicide prevention. Including, warning signs someone may be experiencing thoughts of suicide & how you can make a difference in reducing the risk in our community. When you have a concern someone may be considering suicide, we encourage you to show C.A.R.E.

• Communicate you care
• Ask calmly and directly about suicide
• Refer to counseling or emergency services
• Encourage hope for the future

Don’t forget: Research shows that asking someone directly if they are having thoughts of suicide does not put the idea in their head or further push someone to take their lives. Showing your CARE can save lives.

If you ever have immediate concern for someone’s physical safety: off campus - call 911, on campus - call 540-568-6911. If you have concerns for how to support the mental health of a JMU student who is not in immediate danger, please call the CC (540-568-6552) for a consultation.

Learn more about the mental health services, upcoming workshops, & self-help resources available by visiting the CC website. Free mental health support services are also available to JMU students through JMU's partnership with TimelyCare. To learn more about TimelyCare's free on-demand 24/7/365 services (i.e., TalkNow) as well as scheduled (i.e., counseling, health coaching) support options visit the JMU TimelyCare information page and/or www.timelycare.com/jmu to get started. If you are a faculty or staff member looking for mental health support, please remember that there are support options available through the Employee Assistance Program. Now more than ever it is important to take care of your own mental health while supporting others.

Know what 24/7 emergency services are available at JMU for students experiencing a mental health crisis (e.g., thoughts or plans to kill yourself, thoughts of seriously harming others, recent sexual assault). And, learn about national crisis resources, such as: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, Trevor Lifeline for LGBTQ Youth (1-866-488-7386), Trans Lifeline (1-877-565-8860), & the Crisis TextLine (text “HOME” to 741741).

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention website offers more information, including: prevention resources, simple actions you can take to help prevent suicide, and how to find a support group. During National Suicide Prevention Week (9/10-9/16) & Suicide Prevention Month, AFSP highlights the importance to Talk Away the Dark. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline partners with SAMHSA to encourage that you can #BeThe1To Help Save a Life.

You are needed, please take the time to support your own mental health and our community.

 You are never alone. Dukes are here for one another.