Suicide Prevention & Awareness

DALTON HILL – As students are coming back to campus and adjusting to our new reality, varieties of different mental health disorders have exceedingly increased. With an influx of COVID-19 cases, more students are being isolated and forced to social distance, which can cause stress, anxiety, and depression. With our new distanced reality, students are facing more mental health strains. It is important to be aware of the indications and be prepared to reach out to those facing difficulty. September is National Suicide prevention and awareness month. By reaching out to those that may show warning signs, you may be able to prevent a suicide attempt. It is scary, but it is real. The normalization of negative self-talk amongst college students can blur the signals that someone may be experiencing suicidal thoughts. It is important to educate yourself and others.. Some of the most common warning signs are expressing hopelessness, reckless behaviors, anxiety and easily frustrated, abnormal outburst, and distancing. It is our duty to educate, communicate, and break the stigma of mental health conditions.

Below are resources for those that may themselves be struggling with mental illness:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:  1-800-273-8255 

Crisis Text Line: Text “MHFA” to 741741

Georgia Crisis and Access line: 1-800-715-4225

Copy Editor: Celeste Kazani

Photography Source: Bianca Patel, https://chicagotherapist.com/blog/suicide_prevention_awareness/