Counseling Center

Suicide

Suicide is the second leading cause of death (after accidents) for college students. Prevention of suicide is one of the major reasons that counseling centers exist on college campuses.

The death of a person whose adult life is just beginning is a great tragedy. A life ended at age 20 or 25, even a life that has been troubled so far, represents an enormous loss of potential. Suicide devastates family and friends left behind. The person who commits suicide never sees the pain he or she has caused others, but mental health professionals are deeply aware of the enormous destructive impact this act can have on the lives of survivors.

Suicidal feelings are a common part of severe depression. For most people, though, there is a big difference between thinking, “I wish I could go to sleep and never wake up” and actually planning and carrying out suicide.

Not all people who commit suicide are depressed. Also, most aren’t what we think of as “crazy”, although people with serious mental illnesses do commit suicide more often than others. Most people attempt suicide as a way to get rid of unbearable emotional pain. Some kill themselves as a bid for love and attention that feel they cannot otherwise get. Others kill themselves because they have not been able to accept things about their own lives, or as an escape from overwhelming stress.

What will happen if you come to the Counseling Center and say you are thinking about suicide? The first thing you know is that you won’t be judged: mental health professionals understand that thoughts of suicide are common to many people who have serious problems in their lives. The second thing you should know is that you are not at all likely to be hospitalized against your will. Involuntary hospitalization has strict legal requirements and happens rarely. Many other kinds of assistance are available, and we’d like to help you find them.

As part of our effort to insure student safety, SIU has instituted an mandated assessment policy for students who attempt or threaten suicide. If the Counseling Center receives a credible report of a suicide attempt or threat by a student, that student will be required to come in for three appointments of assessment. He or she will meet with one of our counselors, and that staff member will try to help the student understand what led to the event, what they might have done differently, and how they can handle future situations more safely and effectively. This policy is not intended as a punishment for suicidal students; instead, we hope that we can help these students learn new, more effective ways of dealing with their problems. We also want you to understand that just talking with one of our counselors about suicidal thoughts will not make you subject to this policy; it is intended for students who actually threaten or attempt suicide.

Help at SIUC

Counseling Center, Student Health Center, Room 253, 618-453-5371 during business hours
After hours, call

Girls and Boys Town National Hotline at 1-800-448-3000, or
The National Hopeline 1-800-SUICIDE

If a student is threatening suicide, call Campus Police at 911 or 453-2381 for help

Help in the Carbondale Community

SIRSS, 604 E. College, 618-457-6703
Emergency Room, Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, 305 W. Jackson, 549-0721

Links to Additional Resources

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