If you or someone you know is in need of immediate assistance related to suicide or self-harm, please call 988 or go to the nearest emergency room. If it’s not an emergency, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255 or text HOME to 741741.
Other call, text, and chat options for those who are deaf, hard of hearing, or are Spanish speakers can be found at the lifeline’s website.
College is a time for growth, exploration, and a lot of change — but it can also be a time where you may experience a lot of difficult challenges. Sometimes when we’re struggling, we may have thoughts of death or suicide. Self-harm can also be an indication that someone is experiencing significant emotional or psychological distress.
- Suicide Prevention for College Students
- Suicide Prevention and How to Help
- How to Deal with Self-Harm
Resources
If you’re experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please know that you are not alone and there is support available.
University of Lynchburg Counseling Center
The Counseling Center has highly qualified Licensed Mental Health Counselors available to assist students with a variety of issues. The center provides counseling and education to help you feel your best and relate to others in a healthy way. We welcome the opportunity to talk with you about any source of concern.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800.273.8255)
The lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, seven days a week, across the United States. The lifeline consists of a national network of over 150 local crisis centers, combining custom local care and resources with national standards and best practices.
Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741741)
This line serves anyone in any type of crisis, providing access to free, 24/7 support through a medium people already use and trust: text. For people of color, text STEVE to 741741 to connect with a counselor who is also a person of color.
Mental Health Resource Center
The Jed Foundation is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for young adults. Its Mental Health Resource Center offers many resources for learning more about mental health and how to have a conversation with a friend.
The Trans Lifeline (877.565.8860)
This is a trans-led organization that connects trans people to the community, support, and resources they need to survive and thrive. The hotline is staffed by trans-identified individuals.
The Trevor Project (866.488.7386; text START to 678678)
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning (LGBTQ+) young people.
LGBTQIA+ Campus Resources
The University of Lynchburg recognizes, welcomes, and affirms all gender identities, not limited to the traditional understanding of gender as only male or female. Use the link above to view a list of resources for our LGBTQIA+ community. We also have information on gender-inclusive restrooms on campus as well as gender-inclusive housing.
Tips on How to Help a Friend
When we’re in need of support or connection, the first place most of us turn is to family and friends. If you have friends who have come to you for support, we’ve got tips to help you with those conversations.
Check out the following apps that can help you develop skills to navigate suicide and self-harm outside of professional treatment settings.
Buddhify: This app can help you bring more calm, clarity, and kindness to all parts of your life. Whether you’re looking to reduce stress and anxiety or get a better night’s sleep, Buddhify has easy-to-follow guided meditations to bring mindfulness to all parts of your life, with exercises for whatever you’re doing, wherever you are. Available for download for $4.99 on the Apple App Store and $3.99 on Google Play.
Calm Harm: Provides tasks to help you resist or manage the urge to self-harm. “Distract” helps in learning self-control; “Comfort” helps you care rather than harm; “Express yourself” gets those feelings out in a different way; “Release” provides safe alternatives to self-injury; and “Breathe” helps you achieve calm and get back in control. Available for download for free on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
MY3: With MY3, you define your network and your plan to stay safe, preparing you to help yourself and reach out to others when you are having thoughts of suicide. Remember: There is hope and a life to look forward to, even in your darkest moments. MY3 can help you get through your most difficult times. Available for download for free on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
What’s Up? A Mental Health App: What’s Up is a free app that uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance commitment therapy (ACT) methods to help you cope with depression, anxiety, stress, and more. Use the positive and negative habit tracker to maintain your good habits and break those that are counterproductive. The “Get Grounded” page contains over 100 different questions to pinpoint what you’re feeling and the “Thinking Patterns” page teaches you how to stop negative internal monologues. Available for download free on the Apple App Store and Google Play.