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Last Updated: Oct 16th, 2008 - 13:33:17 |
National Suicide Prevention Week, Sept. 7 through 13, focuses on spreading factual information about suicide and advocating for awareness. Such type of publicity is important to the psychiatric field because it brings difficult topics into discussion. The Metropolitan Counseling Center in Tivoli Student Union provides opportunities for students to talk with mental health professionals free of cost. Students facing tough choices or coping with issues make appointments regularly to visit with counselors.. What's surprising is students frequently come in with thoughts about suicide.
Gail Bruce-Sanford, Ph.D, director of the Counseling Center, explains that suicide is more common than people would think.
"We see cases every week of students presenting themselves suicidal... or thoughts about harming themselves. Perhaps not specific plans but at least some ideas," she said.
For a topic most students feel uncomfortable discussing, the numbers do the talking. There are 30,000 suicide deaths in the United States each year. In the state of Colorado, almost 2,500 people are hospitalized for attempts per year according to Suicide Prevention Resource Center. For residents ages 10-34, suicide is the second leading cause of death according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
The Counseling Center spreads information to faculty, staff and administrators about suicide prevention as much as possible. They promote discussions in classrooms about self-destructive prevention as well as other mental health issues. Important brochures offer current information to students and staff about suicide.
For students expressing self-destructive tendencies, preliminary questions from a counselor about a student's normal activities help open the lines of communication.
"If a student comes in and says, 'I have had thoughts about hurting myself' we do a very, very thorough assessment and we want to make sure that they're safe before they leave our offices," Bruce-Sanford said.
Aftercare for more severe cases might require the counseling center to put students in more protected situations such as overnight care in hospitals. Family members can also be intimately involved with the safety of the student.
No matter how frustrated friends and family of self-destructive individuals might feel, Bruce-Sanford advises friends to not forget professional help. Yet, as a friend, personally supporting the person in need is also a powerful tool. Students and friends can help by being involved with the decision to choose a counselor's help.
Constant strain to grow more independent and succeed in school leaves many students feeling stressed. Financial and personal struggles build up inside and lead a student feeling powerless about their situation. It is important for the student tohave a variety of interests. Counseling Center mental health is one way a student can start their pathto recovery and change the frightening statistical numbers.
"For a lot of people that become actively suicidal they are experiencing major depression, and major depression is treatable, so, it is reversible. We can help them to have hope again," Bruce-Sanford said.
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