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Faculty & Staff

In your role as a faculty or staff, it is likely that you will come across students in distress. Suicide is preventable and it is important that you are aware of the indicators that might suggest that a student is thinking about suicide. The more signs present, the greater the likelihood that that a student is in distress and in need of assistance. 

What To Be Aware Of

• If you witness a student exhibiting any of the following behaviors, call 911 or Safety & Security at 603-646-3333:
• Threatening to hurt or kill him or herself, or talking of wanting to hurt or kill him/herself; and/or,
• Looking for ways to kill him/herself by seeking access to firearms, available pills, or other means; and/or,
• Talking or writing about death, dying or suicide.

Seek help from a Counseling Center mental health professional at 603-646-9442 or offer to walk the student to the Counseling Center when becoming aware of the following risk factors:

• Increased alcohol or other drug use
• No reason for living; no sense of purpose in life
• Anxiety, agitation, unable to sleep or sleeping all the time
• Feeling trapped - like there's no way out
• Hopelessness
• Withdrawal from friends, family and society
• Rage, uncontrolled anger, seeking revenge
• Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities, seemingly without thinking
• Dramatic mood changes

What To Do

1. If the student has made a suicide attempt, call 911 for an ambulance, and Safety and Security at 603-646-3333.
2. If the student has expressed suicidal ideation or appears to be in a fog or not thinking clearly, they need to be seen immediately. Call the Counseling Center at 603-646-9442 during office hours (M-F: 8:00am-4:30pm) or after hours, call the Dick's House Inpatient Department at 603-646-9440 and they will connect you with the Counselor-On-Call. You and the counselor can make the appropriate arrangements for the student to be seen.
3. If the student has a few of the risk factors, but denies having suicidal ideation, it makes sense for them to touch base with a counselor. They can call the Counseling Center to set up an appointment at their convenience.
4. If you are not sure what to do, or how to proceed, call the Counseling Center and ask to speak to the Counselor-On-Call.
5. If you feel the student needs to be seen by a counselor right away and the student refuses, you can contact the Counselor-On-Call or the Dean-On-Call for consultation.

Family & Friends

As a friend or family member, you may be the first one to notice behavior and emotional changes that may indicate that a student is experiencing difficulty. You can play an important role in suicide prevention by becoming aware of signs that may indicate that your loved one is in distress before a crisis occurs and referring the student to mental health professionals.  

Recognizing these warning signs might help prevent a suicide attempt:

• Statements indicating suicidal thinking
• References indicating a vdesire to die
• Depression or other mood changes
• Withdrawal from friends/family
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• Impulsiveness or recklessness
• Anger and anxiety
• Feeling trapped and hopeless
• Suffering a major loss or life change
• Access to self-destructive means

If you think that someone you know may be thinking about suicide:

• Listen to the person and acknowledge his or her pain. 
• Ask directly, "Are you thinking about killing yourself?". This does not increase the risk of a suicide occurring, in fact students are often relieved to have someone to talk to.
• Help the person feel understood and let him or her know you care.
• Avoid judging or inducing guilt.
• Never agree to keep suicidal thoughts in confidence. It is important that a student with suicidal thoughts meet with a counseling professional so the student can receive the support they need.
• Do not leave the person in active crisis alone.
• Refer the individual to professional help. Call the Counseling Center at 603-646-9442 during office hours (M-F: 8:00am-4:30pm) or after hours, call the Dick's House Inpatient Department at 603-646-9440. You and the counselor on-call can make the appropriate arrangements for the student to be seen.
• If you feel the student needs to be seen by a counselor right away and the student refuses, you can contact the Counselor-On-Call or Dean-On-Call at 603-646-3333 for consultation.