SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 — In observance of National Suicide Prevention Week, UTSA reminds Roadrunners that the university has many resources to provide awareness and prevention of suicide. National Suicide Prevention Week, which begins on September 4 and concludes on September 10, is an annual campaign aimed at educating and informing the public about suicide prevention and the warning signs of suicide.
Recognizing the warning signs of suicide and learning how to approach someone about a suicide-related crisis can make all the difference. During Suicide Prevention Week and throughout the academic year, UTSA Wellbeing Services provides outreach, events and advocacy to reduce stigma and encourage individuals to seek and receive well-being support.
Through programs like Campus Connect and Mental Health First Aid, the university provides training and tools for members of the UTSA community to support someone experiencing distress and to get them connected to assistance from a mental health clinician or service.
“It’s important to learn about the warning signs for suicide and how you can effectively connect someone to supportive mental health services.”
Campus Connect is a suicide prevention gatekeeper training session that provides attendees with empirically supported methods for detection, prevention, and intervention. A gatekeeper training is an overview of best practices in responding to someone in distress and how to recognize warning of suicide risk similar to bystander education. Campus Connect will be held from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 7.
Mental Health First Aid is a nationally recognized and evidence-based training course to assist those working with others in a mental-health or substance-use crisis. Mental Health First Aid is a more comprehensive training that teaches about recovery and resiliency and provide more in-depth practice. It centers around the belief that individuals experiencing these challenges can and do get better, and can use their strengths to stay well.
Advocacy and peer interactions are pivotal to encourage a campus climate focused on well-being. Student educators promote well-being resources on campus and encourage their peers to access these resources—including signing up for an individual advocacy session with a mental health peer advocate.
UT Health Wellness 360 counseling center provides students with one-on-one individual interventions. After hours, the Crisis Helpline is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week by calling 210-458-4140 option 2. Students can also receive confidential mental health and well-being support from any location by phone, chat and video support any time day or night on the My Student Support Program (MySSP) app.
“We all play an integral role in the fight for suicide prevention,” said Melissa Hernandez, associate dean of students for wellbeing. “It’s important to learn about the warning signs for suicide and how you can effectively connect someone to supportive mental health services,” said Hernandez.
Understanding the community’s role in connecting students to support is important. Students, faculty and staff can access RowdyLink to learn more about the warning signs of suicide and to sign up for future training opportunities offered by Wellbeing Services.
