Suicide is a Needless & Permanent ‘Solution’ to a Temporary Problem
These are some of the reasons why people
consider suicide:
 You may want relief from painful
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circumstance that you feel helpless
to change.
You may feel you have to do
something huge in order to be
taken seriously.
You may feel no hope that things will
get better, that you will always feel
bad and that nobody will ever
understand.
You may want desperately to control
the loss of a relationship or a death.
You may not recognize any options or that this crisis will end given time.
Your situation may be that you have:
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Lost a significant relationship, confused and scared about how you will carry on.
Been rejected by someone you really want to be in your life.
Had a heavy blow to your self esteem.
Been convincing yourself that you're bad and deserve punishment.
Strong reactions to change in your family, your living situation, in status.
Lost a friend or family member through illness, accident, or suicide.
Feelings of worthlessness, alienation, loneliness, homesickness, anger.
Confusing thoughts which interfere with life, with sleep, with school.
Suicidal thoughts are not uncommon among college students. You may be:
 Tall or short, attractive or plain, an easy-study student or a study slave, a leader
or a loner, a male or a female, loud or quiet, aggressive or compliant, popular or
unpopular.
 Lost inside yourself right now; uninvolved with others, feel that life has lost all
meaning.
 Moody, grouchy, like you're on an emotional roller coaster.
Twelve things that YOU CAN remember and do that help
1. Suicidal thoughts can be useful signals that you want your life to be
different and rid of pain, not that you want to be dead.
2. Contact one of the crisis resource numbers listed at the bottom of this page.
Talking about it is the first step towards [re] gaining control.
3. Be with other people whom you trust and appreciate; avoid "downer" people.
4. Reach out to the safest person you can find—a Housing staff member, instructor,
brother, sister, mother, father, minister, old friend...someone. Let the person
know how you're feeling and that you need to talk.
5. Try to get quality sleep--sleep affects mood more than most people realize. If
you're having trouble sleeping, cut out coffee, and other sources of caffeine. Try
a warm shower/bath before going to bed. If noise bothers you, get soft ear plugs
from a pharmacist; do deep muscle relaxation or other calming technique.
6. Avoid dangerous situations. (Alcohol is particularly ill-advised because it is a
depressant in the long run, and compromises self-control and judgment. Mixing
alcohol and pills can permanently damage your brain, liver, nervous system.)
7. Think of a time when you felt good about you; a success; a time you helped
someone else; how you've been down before and gotten up again. Ask
yourself: what is the difference; what part of me have I lost touch with that I
need to reconnect to?
8. Give yourself comfort--warm baths/showers, a good book, music with positive
associations, a favorite hobby...Say to yourself, "I deserve this." Likewise try to
accept comfort and support from others as readily as you would give it.
9. Start writing down your thoughts and feelings in a private journal. Be sure to
include what you want to change, move towards.
10. List 5 things that you can do when you're feeling desperate. Write them on a
note card and put it in an easily remembered/accessible place.
11. Try to solve problems and "take care of business" one day at a time so that your
worries don't mount up any higher than they are now. This will also give you a
feeling that you are more in control of your life, and moving in a better direction.
12. Write this note (or your personal variation of) & keep it with you:
My suicidal crisis is temporary.
This pain can be survived.
Help is available.
I am not alone.
I will get better.
Suicide Prevention Resource Center
http://www.sprc.org
Jed Foundation--University Students
Campus and Local Resource Phone Numbers
 Counseling & Psychological Services (054 Founders Building, next to Physical
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Plant) – 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday: 552 - 2365
Campus Housing Staff
Campus Police: 552 – 2911 (if an emergency, they will contact a counselor)
Community Mental Health - 24 hour crisis #: 333 – 3265.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: (800) 273 – TALK.