- Suicide is one of the leading causes
of death among young people.
At Georgia Tech we are committed
to working together as a community
to reach out to those who are in pain,
to do whatever we can to save a life.
Learn about the warning signs.
Learn what steps you can take
to help someone when it matters most.
- She started isolating herself.
It just wasn't like her.
- He took the breakup really hard.
- When he lost his job, things just seemed to fall apart.
- They were constantly worried
about disappointing their parents.
They just felt so much pressure.
- She became withdrawn.
She stopped hanging out with her friends,
and she even stopped texting and talking to me.
- I noticed that he hardly ate and was always sleeping.
He even joked that he just wished
he could go to sleep and not wake up.
- He started drinking heavily,
he stopped caring about how he looked,
and he sounded hopeless about his prospects
for finding a new job.
- They stopped caring about their grades.
One time they told me they just wished they could disappear
so they wouldn't be a burden to their family.
- We are taught to be polite, to mind our own business,
not to offend or intrude into people's personal lives.
But when you see signs that seem to go
beyond the typical stresses of college life,
it's okay to talk to someone who might be in crisis.
Don't be silenced by your fear
of asking or saying the wrong thing.
Find the words.
Start the conversation.
- I knew that it would haunt me if I didn't try to help.
- I have a friend who had attempted suicide,
and I didn't want to see it happen
to someone else I care about.
- Even if you think you're risking a friendship,
it's better than having your friend hurt himself.
- I knew I had to do something
because I really cared about them.
If it were me, I would want a friend to do the same,
even if I couldn't ask.
- So I asked her if she was thinking about suicide,
and she said yes.
So I called the on-call counselor
at Tech's Counseling Center.
Later, I went with her to the Counseling Center for support.
- I shared that I'd had problems in the past,
and I asked if he was comfortable talking to a counselor.
- We talked about who could provide the support
he needed right now and decided to call his family
and tell them what's been going on.
- The more we talked, the more concern they expressed
about their own safety, so we agreed
to get the residence hall advisor involved.
- To help a friend or someone you know
who may be having thoughts of suicide, follow these steps.
Number one, recognize or ask if they are struggling
with thoughts of suicide.
Warning signs include verbal cues that reveal feelings
of hopelessness, helplessness, or feeling trapped;
withdrawal and isolation;
giving important possessions away;
changes in mood, changes in sleep patterns,
changes in alcohol use or other drugs;
looking for and obtaining items to attempt suicide;
talking about death or dying, if out of the ordinary.
- Number two, take action by reaching out directly
or enlisting help from others.
Ask directly about suicide.
Remind them that they are not alone
and that help is available.
Express concern.
Listen with empathy and no judgment.
- Refer them or assist them in reaching out to:
the Georgia Tech Counseling Center,
which has an on-call counselor;
Stamps Psychiatry;
peer coaching;
the Student Life Referral form;
the Employee Assistance Program;
the Faculty & Staff Assistance Program;
get QPR training;
the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline;
the Trevor Lifeline;
and Tech's Community Center for Health and Well-Being.
- Suicide touches everyone, Georgia Tech is no different,
but each of us can empower ourselves
by becoming educated about this issue
and to commit ourselves in helping those
in crisis on our campus.
You are not alone.
Together we have the power to make a difference.
- We're all in this together.