September is National Suicide Prevention Month. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among individuals aged 15-24. Contrary to popular belief, asking the question does not put the idea into someone\u2019s head. It is important to have regular conversations with your student about their well-being in order to offer support and reduce any stigma or shame around seeking help. Suicide is preventable.<\/p>\n
The Ohio State University lists several\u00a0warning signs<\/a>\u00a0for individuals who may be suicidal. If your student is in need of urgent mental health support, please contact local resource HelpLine (available 24\/7 via phone at 740-369-3316 or text \u201chelpline\u201d to 898211), the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (available 24\/7 via phone or text at 988), or Uwill’s 24\/7 phone support (1-833-646-1526). In the event of an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Room (not Urgent Care).<\/p>\n Otherwise, if your student is in need of mental health support or services, they are welcome to visit\u00a0OWU Counseling Services<\/a>\u00a0in R.W. Corns 316 to discuss next steps. We are also available at 740-368-3145 or\u00a0counselingservices@owu.edu<\/a>. Another option is free ongoing virtual counseling or as-needed 24\/7 phone support (1-833-646-1526) through\u00a0Uwill<\/a>.<\/p>\n If your family has been impacted by suicide, consider exploring the following resources:<\/p>\n