Location: 3rd FloorFalcon Center
Phone: 304-367-4155
Email: Counseling@FairmontState.edu
Hours of Operation: M-F 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Shannon Ackerman, MA, MS, NCC, EMDR-T
Mental Health Counselor
Phone: (304) 367-4792
sackerman@fairmontstate.edu
Aaron Vedock, MSW, LICSW, BCD, CCFC, CM-IC
Mental Health Counselor
(304) 367-4686
Aaron.Vedock@fairmontstate.edu
Over 42,000 people die by suicide in the US, and over 1,000,000 people attempt suicide each year in the US – it is the second leading cause of death for people ages 15-34, and the tenth leading cause of death overall. Yet the only one that is completely preventable.
For each attempted or completed suicide, an average of six people are directly affected, and 135 people impacted. Suicide is often termed a permanent solution to a temporary problem.
Get help now – call 1-800-TALK
Potential reasons people attempt or complete suicide include:
The more of these reasons are present, the greater the danger to a person’s life. DO NOT LEAVE A PESRSON THAT MIGHT BE SUICIDAL ALONE!
People who are suicidal often share their thoughts with those around them – sometime in direct ways, sometime in more subtle ways. Direct expressions include statements such as:
The expressions can be quite ambiguous, such as:
Some more subtle hints include:
Every indication that a person might be thinking of suicide should be taken serious – even if the person has talked about it quite frequently, but never followed through.
Here some ways to help someone who is thinking about suicide:
Find more information about how to ask the questions and get help.
Read What not to say to someone who is suicidal.
You are encouraged to take advantage of free online training designed for educators offered by the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide.
You can request QPR Suicide Prevention Skills training for your group or organization - the training requires a minimum of 75 minutes and no more than 35 participants.
Please visit our LibGuides for additional Suicide prevention information and resources.