Suicide Prevention Week 2021

Suicidal thoughts, feelings, and ideas can effect anyone regardless of age, racial background, gender identity, or upbringing much like any mental health concern. Often times suicide is the result of an unrated mental health condition and while suicidal thoughts are common they are often indicative of a more serious underlying need that should be addressed.

Adapted from NAMI

Hope

“The possibility of instilling hope is one reason that counseling is so important for people who are thinking about suicide. Professional counselors are experts at helping people see that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem — and that there is hope for the future.”

Recovery

In addition to Suicide Prevention Week, September is also National Recovery Month. Recovery Month celebrates gains made by those in recovery and works to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the emergence of a strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of services providers and community members across the nation who make recovery in all its forms possible.
ECU’s Collegiate Recovery Community (CRC), also known as ECU Recovery, is designed to provide educational opportunities, personal development, and social enhancement to your recovery from mind-altering substances and to the allies that support your journey to a better self. The goal of ECU Recovery is to create a welcoming environment for all students of the University and to create a culture within the University that supports abstinence within a model of a recovery-based system of care. Simply put, ECU Recovery values you and supports your individualized needs.

Mission

The mission of ECU’s Collegiate Recovery Community is to contribute to recovering individuals’ academic success in college through programming efforts, creation of a supportive environment, experiential activities, and the opportunity to increase awareness of substance issues on the college campus through peer education.

Services Provided

  • Weekly check-ins and goal setting
  • On-campus counseling and support groups
  • Off-campus referral services
  • Dedicated meeting spaces
  • Sober recreational activities
  • Service learning and volunteer opportunities

Four Pillars of the ECU CRC

  1. Recovery
    Recovery is the cornerstone of ECU Recovery. We expect students whom have made a personal commitment to themselves and their peers to maintain their recovery and utilize the resources available to them to develop a lifestyle that will be conducive to their long-term wellbeing.
  2. Education
    Through workshops, outreaches, and sponsorship of speakers ECU Recovery and its members will work together to provide psycho-educational programming education to the students, faculty, and staff of East Carolina University on topics of alcohol and other drug issues to help reduce stigma, dispel myths about mental health, substance use disorders, and recovery, and promote prevention and harm-reduction.
  3. Wellness
    ECU Recovery is committed to the cultivation of mind and body connection. Utilizing the Eight Dimensions of Wellness through support groups, workshops, and experiential learning, we seek to assist members in finding their path to long-term recovery and overall wellbeing.
  4. Service
    Service is a vital part of East Carolina University’s culture and is essential to ECU Recovery. Through service we are able to pass on things we have learned to others and pay back to society a portion of what has been given to us. ECU’s Purple Pantry is the official philanthropic service effort of ECU Recovery.

Resilience

Resilience : noun

re·​sil·​ience|\ri-ˈzil-yən(t)s

: an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change

Credit: Merriam-Webster

Underserved Population

Now more than ever given the current world-wide pandemic and the divide within the country, it has become apparent that there are numerous gaps of services when it comes to ensuring mental health resources are available for ALL who may need them.

Resources for Black Americans:

  • The Steve Fund – Organization dedicated to the mental health and emotional well-being of students of color and providing crisis intervention via text by texting STEVE to 741741 to speak with a trained crisis counselor 24/7.
  • Black Mental Health Alliance – To develop, promote and sponsor trusted culturally-relevant educational forums, training and referral services that support the health and well-being of Black people and other vulnerable communities.
  • Black Mental Health Resources – A list of Black owned and focused mental health resources for various states across the US.
  • Melanin & Mental Health – Resource, directory, and podcast with a desire to connect individuals with culturally competent clinicians committed to serving the mental health needs of Black & Latinx/Hispanic Communities.
  • Self Care – Readings on the importance of self care, mental health care, and healing for people of color and within activist movements.
  • ECU CCSD Sister Circle –  This group is for African American/Black women to share and explore the intricate challenges they may face as a double minority at a predominantly white institution.

Resources for LGBTQI Individuals:

  • The TREVOR Project – Leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, & questioning youth and young adults.
  • National Center for Transgender Equality – Advocates to change policies and society to increase understanding and acceptance of transgender people. NCTE works to replace disrespect, discrimination, and violence with empathy, opportunity, and justice.
  • Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality – Provider directory specifically for those identifying within the LGBTQI community.
  • Q Chat – A scheduled online discussion group for LGBTQ+ teens 13-19 years old facilitated by professional facilitators.
  • It Gets Better – A nonprofit organization with a mission to uplift, empower, and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth and young adults around the world.
  • ECU Dr. Jesse R. Peel LGBTQ Center – Strives to foster understanding and acceptance of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community. The Peel LGBTQ Center works each day to develop tomorrow’s leaders to serve and inspire positive change.

Additional Resources

Self-Care

self-care
/ˌselfˈker/
noun
the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s own health.
“autonomy in self-care and insulin administration”
the practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress.
“expressing oneself is an essential form of self-care”
More Information and Ideas for Self-Care:

Reflection

We understand that there has been a lot of information given to you this week and with that, rather than putting out more information we want to take a moment to allow for reflection. Practicing intentional reflection has been shown to increase self-awareness and improving emotional intelligence as well as allowing for a better understanding of others. Reflection is a tool that can be used to improve your learning both as a student and in your relation to work and life as a whole.While it may take time to adopt the technique initially, it can lead to improved thought processes, interpersonal relationships, and focus in many aspects of life.
“The possibility of instilling hope is one reason that counseling is so important for people who are thinking about suicide. Professional counselors are experts at helping people see that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem — and that there is hope for the future.” 

The Facts

-Suicide is the 2nd leading cause for 15-29 year olds
-There is one completed suicide approximately every 12 minutes in the US
-Depression effects 20-25% of Americans 18+ years old
–18 % of undergraduate and 15 % of graduate students have seriously considered attempting suicide in their lifetimes
-Males represent 79% of all completed US suicides
-Females are 3 times as likely to attempt suicide than males
-In the US 1 African-American completes suicide every 4.5 hours
-LGBTQ individuals are 5x as likely to have attempted suicide

In the United States, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death, having risen 25% in the last 20 years with an estimated 123 Americans completing suicide every day. Worldwide, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for those 15-24 years old with depression being the leading cause of disability throughout the globe. Each completed suicide is the result of approximately 25 attempts and is four times more likely among males than females.The rate of suicide is four times higher for those identifying within the LGBTQ community and higher in those with less supportive family. While the highest suicide rates in the United States are among, Whites, American Indians, and Alaskan Natives, in 2017 suicide was the second leading cause of death for African-American individuals ages 15-24 years old who are less likely to seek mental health services.

One in two adults in the United States struggle with some sort of substance use. Studies show that approximately 21 million Americans have at least one addiction with only 10% receiving treatment and being most likely for individuals 18-25 years old. Drugs and alcohol are thought to be present factors in 50% of all suicides or violent crimes. 31% of all college students admit to symptoms of alcohol abuse and over 100,000 students are arrested annually for alcohol-related violations. Marijuana is the most widely used substance among college aged individuals with 1 in 22 students admitting to using marijuana daily. College students are also twice as likely to misuse medications prescribed for ADHD and 13% of students admitting to having tried other stimulants like cocaine by their senior year.

 

 

Credit: Each Mind Matters, SAVE, OMH, TWLOHA, The Trevor Project, NAMI, Alpine Recovery, Addiction Center, Rehab Spot

What Do I Do?

When you are concerned about someone or feel that they may need some extra support, it can be difficult to know how to start the conversation. Providing support by being a listening ear or encouraging your friend to engage in an activity can be a great way to approach potentially awkward situations and learn more on how to Start the Conversation

For many, it is not always clear as to when someone may be struggling with thoughts of suicide and oftentimes actions speak louder than words. Here are just a few signs to look for that may indicate a mental health concern:

  • New impulsive or risky behaviors
  • Irritation or on edge (not acting like
  • Change in hygiene or daily habits (eating, sleeping, social habits)
  • Trouble concentrating or completing tasks
  • Substance misuse
  • Isolation or withdraw

If your friend or another Pirate is displaying any of these or other concerning behaviors, that may be a sign of possible suicidal thoughts or actions, encourage a call to CCSD 252-328-6661, report a concern to ECU CARES or if there is a life-threatening situation call ECU Police at 252-328-6787 or 911.

CCSD Supports

Urgent Support Services 
Individual Counseling
Group Counseling 
Workshops
Substance Use Counseling 
Collegiate Recovery Community
Case Management
Consultation

Be in the Know

 

Reach Out

If you or someone you know if struggling with thoughts of suicide, self-harm, substance use, or other mental health concerns, consider utilizing these resources or contacting CCSD for Urgent Support Services for non-life threatening situations.