By By: EVA MONHAUT
Staff writer
emonhaut@iu.edu
Among college students, suicide is the second leading cause of death. In Indiana alone, more people die annually from committing suicide than those killed in homicide.
These statistics are alarming so the IU South Bend Student Counseling Center wants to do what they can to prevent these incidents.
“These statistics speak for themselves. It is a silent crisis that we are working hard to prevent and to reduce stigma,” said Henry Jean, staff counselor at the center.
The workshops began after the center received the Dorene Dwyer Hammes Grief and Loss Support Fund grant in 2012.
The workshops, known as Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) workshops came about as part of a campus suicide prevention program which is commonly used in many campuses across the country.
All of the workshops are offered to students, staff and faculty campus wide and can be adapted for classroom settings.
Additionally, new staff is constantly being trained to give workshops.
“These workshops, to become certified gatekeepers, are done in small groups (less than 25), take about one and a half hours and were offered for free,” explained Jean.
After someone becomes a certified gatekeeper they have the tools to help those in need.
“Just as individuals learn how to do the Heimlich maneuver and CPR to prevent a medical emergency, assisting someone with a mental health crisis by doing QPR is something everyone can learn to help prevent suicide,” expanded Jean.
These workshops teach gatekeepers to recognize early warning signs and communicate with individuals in order to direct them to resources to help them.
Some Important Resources for Suicide Prevention:
- 911
- Memorial Epworth 574-647-8400
- Student Counseling Center (during office hours) 574-520-4125
- Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-TALK (8255) 24/7
- Text Line: Text HELPNOW to 20121
If you are interested in more information, visit the qprinstitute.com or contact the Student Counseling Center at 574-520-4125.
