Suicide is a significant public health concern. Deaths by suicide have been reduced over the years, yet still remain prevalent across the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control, suicide dropped off the list of 10 leading causes of death in 2020 but still remains among the top 15. By understanding how to get help and recognizing the warning signs, action can be taken to help prevent suicide. Keep reading to understand the warning signs, factors that contribute to suicide, factors that reduce the risk of suicide, and helpful resources.

What causes suicide or suicidal attempts?

Typically no one situation, experience, or individual is to blame for suicidal thoughts or suicidal actions. Instead, a range of challenges tends to increase the risk of suicide. Read more from the CDC about circumstances that can increase suicide risk.

Warning Signs and Protective Factors

Along with circumstances that can increase suicide risk, there are also warning signs that you can recognize within yourself and others.

We all experience different emotions, and they can vary in terms of where we fall on the mental health spectrum. Recognize your own feelings and be aware of the frequency, duration, and any changes in patterns of behavior too. Patterns of unusual behavior may be cause for concern. 

We can all do our part to help prevent suicide. Communities, individuals, and society can contribute to reducing the risk of suicide by supporting each other. 

Different types of factors can help protect against the risk of suicide.

If you or someone else is experiencing thoughts of suicide or suicidal behaviors, here are tips and tools to help you navigate:

• Maintain healthy stress management and practice healthy coping skills, including boundaries. 

• Practice healthy habits regularly to maintain your health and overall well-being.

• Seek out help and address how you're feeling. Help Guide provides this informative page that allows you to navigate suicidal feelings, what to expect when reaching out to a hotline and how to help someone that may be showing signs of suicide.

For more information, check out the tools listed below: 

• Stress management guide - https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/stress-management.htm 
• Facts about suicide - https://sprc.org/about-suicide 
• How to talk to someone about suicide - https://www.bethe1to.com/bethe1to-steps-evidence/ 
• Resources to get help for yourself, those at risk, or if you've lost a loved one to suicide - https://afsp.org/get-help
• Suicide prevention resources and tools for mental health conditions - https://afsp.org/suicide-prevention-resources
• UMBC Counseling Center - https://health.umbc.edu/ 
• How to be there for someone - https://sprc.org/news/how-be-there 
• Check out the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - https://www.nami.org
• Contact #988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline via text, phone call, or visit the website - https://988lifeline.org/ 

The Center for Well-Being and Erickson Hall have reservable, private spaces from which students may participate in virtual appointments with their community-based mental health providers. These are available between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday when the campus is open. To reserve a space, please send an email with your desired reservation date and time to privatecounselingspace@umbc.edu. If we cannot accommodate your request, we will get back to you to discuss other available times. All reservation requests should be made at least 72 hours in advance.

University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) has partnered with 3rd Millennium, whose mission is to help students address critical life skills such as alcohol abuse prevention, drug abuse prevention, relationship violence prevention and sexual assault prevention, in high schools and higher education institutions across the country.

As part of our comprehensive prevention program for new incoming first year and/or transfer undergraduate and graduate students, UMBC requires that new, undergraduate students complete Alcohol-Wise and Other Drugs and new, graduate students complete Other Drugs. These online courses will empower you to make healthy, well-informed decisions about issues that affect your college years and beyond.

Important: For each of the courses: 

• Part 1 is due August 13, 2021 and
• Part 2 is due October 22, 2021 [Alcohol-Wise ONLY]

All courses open July 2, 2021.

Alcohol-Wise For College 

1. Always sign in at: https://my.umbc.edu/go/alcoholwise
2. You will be directed to the myUMBC login page. Sign in with your UMBC username and password, and you will then be taken directly to the registration page for the Alcohol-Wise course.

Passing Exam Score: 75%

Other Drugs

1. Always sign in at: https://my.umbc.edu/go/otherdrugsprevention
2. You will be directed to the myUMBC login page. Sign in with your UMBC username and password, and you will then be taken directly to the registration page for the Other Drugs course.

Other Important Information:

• You will need Internet access and audio capabilities.
• To avoid technical issues, please use any major web browser released within the previous two years.
• You may take the course(s) in multiple sittings.
• The courses may include surveys to help personalize your experience and measure students’ attitudes and behaviors.
• Should you experience any technical issues, including issues with course login, 3rd Millennium has technical support and can be accessed by emailing help@3rdmil.com or clicking on the “Help” link within the courses.
• Should you experience login problems related to myUMBC, contact the DoIT Help Desk by visiting https://my.umbc.edu/go/request-help or call 410-455-3838.
• If you have any additional questions or concerns about these courses, please email uhs@umbc.edu.
• Upon completion of this course, you DO NOT need to send a copy of your completion certificate to University Health Services.

Thank you, and welcome to UMBC!