Study by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine about the Association of Disability with Suicide-Related Outcomes.

What can you do if you if you are worried about yourself or someone else:

Reach out - it's not a time to be silent, connect.

Listen - no one needs to feel like they are alone - we're in this together.

Get help - there is campus, local and national support

UMBC Resources include:

Retriever Integrated Health, which has Counseling Services and more for students

Reach Out Retrievers - Online Support for Mental Health, including Peer-to-Peer resources, Togetherall, WellTrack, and Kognito

Faculty and Staff can reach out to the USM Employee Assistance Program.

For all who are  working with a mental health provider - check in and schedule an urgent appointment with that health professional.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available at any time by calling or texting 988 - different from 911 - to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

The Trevor Project provides support for LGBTQ+ community

From all who are struggling, Please Stay.

We're glad you are here, peace to you.

A captioned performance of Please Stay by Jake Runestead is linked here.

On the response side, UMBC's Office of Health Promotion has programs and trainings, including Mental Health First Aid that boost the campus community's ability to respond effectively when someone is in crisis.

Post is accompanied by a photo of a large split-trunk tree, with half of the tree grasped and supported by a hand-and-forearm-shaped statue. Credit: Neil Thomas via unsplash.com.

September is Suicide Prevention Month, and UMBC is helping to raise awareness and promote effective strategies in the campus community and beyond.

Study by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine about the Association of Disability with Suicide-Related Outcomes.

What can you do if you if you are worried about yourself or someone else:

Reach out - it's not a time to be silent, connect.

Listen - no one needs to feel like they are alone - we're in this together.

Get help - there is campus, local and national support

UMBC Resources include:

Retriever Integrated Health, which has Counseling Services and more for students

Reach Out Retrievers - Online Support for Mental Health, including Peer-to-Peer resources, Togetherall, WellTrack, and Kognito

Faculty and Staff can reach out to the USM Employee Assistance Program.

For all who are  working with a mental health provider - check in and schedule an urgent appointment with that health professional.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available at any time by calling or texting 988 - different from 911 - to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

The Trevor Project provides support for LGBTQ+ community

From all who are struggling, Please Stay.

We're glad you are here, peace to you.

A captioned performance of Please Stay by Jake Runestead is linked here.

Edited to add Megan Thee Stallion whose line in "Anxiety" is "I just want to talk to someone who gets me" created a website of mental health resources beginning with the National Crisis Textline (Text HOME to 741741), Stronghearts Native Helpline, Therapy Resources for Black Women and Men, LGBTQ Psychotherapist of Color Directory and much more. - here's the link for dealing with those bad days.

Post is accompanied by a photo of a large split-trunk tree, with half of the tree grasped and supported by a hand-and-forearm-shaped statue. Credit: Neil Thomas via unsplash.com.

For the past few years, UMBC has worked with American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) in hosting our annual Out of the Darkness: Suicide Prevention Campus Walk. Each year, students, parents, staff, and community members come together to raise awareness about mental health and to find ways to support persons on their journeys out of darkness. In our current times, the mental health needs of our students are growing, making events like this are of great importance. In light of physical distancing, this year's annual Out of the Darkness Walk, to be held on Saturday, April 25, will be virtual.

Instructions: Please take a picture of yourself in an AFSP shirt (if you have one) or a UMBC shirt either walking or holding up a positive message and share it on your (or your department's) social media page. Ideally, take the picture outside (in a safe manner). Please include the following or a similar message:

 We encourage departments to make walking teams and register them on our campus website: www.afsp.org/umbc . Please urge students to make teams as well!  

Teams are asked to set a giving goal to raise money for AFSP and the many programs (including those at UMBC) that they support. Your giving goal is your choice. We will be raising funds through June 30, 2020.

Please join our department, in partnership with University Health Services,  as we  walk, tap & roll out of the darkness in body, mind and spirit!