Mental Health Crisis

If you are concerned about suicide

If you learn about a concern regarding a student’s safety due to threat of suicide, please follow these guidelines:

  • If a student is saying something vague that leaves you with an impression that they might not be safe, then be sure to use your skills learned in QPR to ask directly about their safety. You might say something like “When you say you have no hope that makes me concerned, and I really care about you. I want to make sure I am understanding how you are doing right now. Are you having thoughts about dying or hurting yourself?” If the student is a threat to themselves, you will need to call the Res Life professional staff member on call.

  • If a student mentions they saw something vague on Facebook that made them concerned about their friend, find the friend and use your QPR skills to better understand the vague statements. Because of the nature of the concern this conversation needs to be a priority. If the student is a threat to themselves, you will need to call the Res life professional staff on call. If you need help finding this person, call the Res Life professional staff on-call.

  • You are a necessary link in helping a struggling student get connected to resources. You are empowered to ask these seemingly uncomfortable but vital questions.

  • You are not alone! Your RD/AC is a great coach to help you feel prepared to handle a situation like this. Whenever a student is suicidal you need to contact the Res Life professional staff on call as they are the next link in getting a struggling student the support they need.

  • Never leave a suicidal student alone. If you need to call the Res Life professional staff on-call and are alone with the student, you may call in the presence of the student, just explain to the student what you are doing and why.

  • After you call the Res Life professional staff on call, the person on call will likely come and talk with the student and determine if further measures should be taken in order to ensure the student’s immediate safety.


QPR Refresher

During RA training you were trained on a method of suicide prevention known as QPR below is a brief overview of what you learned and a reminder of what to do if you suspect someone might be suicidal.

Question

It feels scary to ask a person if they have thoughts of death or killing themselves. Even though it feels scary, it is crucial that we directly ask a person if they are thinking about harming themselves. It is common to fear that asking these kinds of questions will cause someone to harm themselves, but we know that asking direct questions is the first step to identifying how best to help someone.

Persuade

As you speak with someone, your goal is to persuade them to be willing to get help.

Refer

You are not expected to be an expert, but it is important that you know how to refer someone to the person who is best trained to help someone who is suicidal.


Panic Attacks

Panic attacks are bouts of extreme anxiety or fear. They are scary but almost never life-threatening. The following reviews some signs and symptoms of a panic attack and steps to help you learn what to do if someone is experiencing one.

Signs and Symptoms

  • Racing thoughts

  • Feeling of unreality

  • Palpitations or chest pain, hot flashes or chills

  • Dizziness, lightheaded (caused by hyperventilating)

  • Speeding up of the heart rate

  • Rapid or over-breathing

  • Headaches, backaches

  • Nausea

  • Trembling

  • Tingling in fingers or toes

  • Sweating

  • Dry mouth, difficulty swallowing

What to do if you suspect someone is experiencing a panic attack:

  1. Bring calm to the area. If there are people around, ask most of them to go back to their own rooms and pray. If possible, bring the person to a calm, quiet, private location.

  2. Ask the student about what’s going on with them. When did they start to feel symptoms? What brought on the symptoms? Have they ever felt this way before? Under what circumstances? Do they have any medical issues related to these symptoms (like asthma)? If they’ve never had a panic attack before and they can’t breathe or are having heart problems, it may be a serious medical issue (heart attack, asthma attack) -- get them to the hospital (call 911).

  3. Ask about their cause for fear and seek to remove the trigger or remove the student from the trigger.

  4. If they are breathing too quickly (common), ask them to breathe on your count. Start with in for 2 seconds, out for 2 seconds, then increase to 4 or 5 until breathing is regulated. You may also ask them to match your breathing as you breathe steadily and slowly.

  5. If they want to move, don’t restrain them. Encourage them to walk, stretch or do jumping jacks, or accomplish a physical task (clean them room, etc.).

  6. Gently remind them of reality if their fears are irrational (watch your tone--don’t patronize).

  7. Don’t pressure them to come up with answers if they’re having a hard time.

  8. Keep them comfortable.

  9. Ask if you can pray for/with them.

  10. If nothing helps within 20 minutes, call the Res Life professional staff member on call who will come and assess the situation and possibly solicit more outside help. If the student wants to go to the ER then take them, but don’t push this option-- taking them to the ER may cause more anxiety, and is not usually necessary.

  11. Alert the Res Life professional staff member on call if there is any indication of suicidal ideation.

  12. Make sure they have non-stressful plans for the rest of the day -- help them focus on the basics -- eating, sleeping, drinking water, and getting through the day.

  13. Follow-up: Later, suggest they talk to a counselor to teach them anxiety-management techniques or attend the “Anxiety Toolbox” workshop series.