Saving students from suicide

In an effort to help make suicide less of a concealed topic, the Student Wellness Team at UB is putting on various activities and discussions for Suicide Prevention Week, running from Tuesday to Thursday.
'Any demographic is at risk [for suicide], but students may be more at risk because they are in the stage of life where major changes are occurring,' said Carissa Uschold, a licensed clinical social worker and suicide prevention coordinator for UB counseling services.
Suicide is a taboo topic because people are afraid to discuss the topic and ask the questions because they are often afraid of the answer and not knowing what to do, Uschold said.
On Tuesday, Suicide Prevention Week began with the Missing from the Pack display.
'A visual display of approximately 83 backpacks was displayed to represent the number of college students in the state of New York lost by suicide over the past year alone,' Uschold said. 'The backpacks were decorated by students and staff over the past year.'
The 'Wellness Activity Day' also occurred on Tuesday, and consisted of decorating comfort kits to honor emotional well-being, Uschold said.
Wednesday at 8 p.m., 'To Write Love on Her Arms' will be held in the Lippes Concert Hall in Slee Hall.
This event focuses on a group of individuals who educate the public on decreasing the stigma of mental health issues and suicide to increase hope through their music and words, according to Uschold.
Thursday, from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. in 210 Student Union Suicide Prevention Training will be offered to anyone who stops by with each session lasting an hour. This session is also known as QPR, which stands for question, persuade, refer, Uschold said.
'This is really a kind of first line defense to teach people how to respond to someone who is thinking about suicide to offer them hope and to link them to ways to find help,' Uschold said. 'It has had a huge impact on campus because I have had people come in [to Counseling Services] and said it has helped them or someone else.'
This training session would be beneficial because you can make a difference, according to Kathryn Koestner, a freshman nursing major.
The training will show an individual how to identify someone who is struggling with emotional distress, according to Uschold. Changes in behavior and mood are signs of emotional distress, as well as a decrease in academic performance and social withdrawal. Other signs include changes in hygiene and behaving in apathetic ways.
Suicide Prevention Week is essential, especially in a campus community setting, Uschold said. Suicide is one of the most treatable forms of emotional distress and providing hope can save a life.
'I'm proud to participate in these events because my career is in clinical psychology and suicidality, and suicidality is a major concern among students so anything I can do to destigmatize this issue is completely worth it,' said Matt Gilbert, a psychology intern from Spalding University.
These events are all funded by an SAMSHA grant from the government that allows for education and prevention programming, according to Uschold.
Students can find ongoing mental health counseling throughout the year in Counseling Services.

E-mail: spectrum-news@buffalo.edu