Suicide
Rice Counseling Center
713-348-4867 (24 hours)
http://rcc.rice.edu
As the second leading cause of death among college-age students, suicide is a very present issue for most students. With the demands of college academically, physically, and emotionally often students feel overwhelmed and helpless.
If you are struggling with your academics, feeling blue or depressed, or have contemplated or are contemplating suicide, talk with a trusted friend and get help at the Rice Counseling Center. You may be feeling tired, alone, depressed, scared, angry, hopeless, or unloved, and it may seem that things will never get better. However, no matter how overwhelming your problems seem, confidential help is available. Licensed psychologists at the Counseling Center are available to help you to find alternatives you may not have considered and solutions to problems or situations that may seem hopeless. If you are depressed, effective treatments are available that will help to relieve your sadness, anger, and pain.
Suicide Survivors: When you've lost someone you love
When an individual commits suicide--or tries to--that person's family and close friends often are devastated and experience intense and persistent pain. Suicide survivors may suffer through repeated nightmares and flashbacks of the suicide scene, and they may avoid people and places that remind them of the suicide. Some survivors lose interest in activities they once enjoyed and grow emotionally numb--feeling incapable of caring. Beyond bereavement, suicide survivors may themselves become depressed or develop another mental illness due to severe stress.
Common emotions:
If you're a suicide survivor, you may have experienced reactions like shock, confusion, grief, despair, anger and/or guilt. These emotions usually subside with time, but the process can take weeks to months. The emotions may also recur from time to time, particularly during a special holiday, such as a birthday or an anniversary that reminds you of your loved one.
Seeking help:
If you're having trouble dealing with the loss, don't hesitate to seek help. Otherwise you may not improve, and other problems may develop. Counseling or psychotherapy can help you cope with the crisis you're facing. Make an appointment at the Rice Counseling Center to talk to a licensed psychologist and find healthy ways to cope.
Credit: Mayo Clinic Mental Health
Other Resources
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a network of local crisis centers located in communities across the country that are committed to suicide prevention. Callers to the hotline will receive suicide prevention counseling from trained staff at the closet certified crisis center in the network.
- National Mental Health Association 1-800-969-NMHA (6642): This site offers information on the presence and risk of suicide among college students as well as toll-free numbers and websites to use if you need to talk to someone.
- The Suicide Paradigm Guide: This site lists several links to helpful websites for more information or numbers to call for: Sites for Suicide Loss Grievers, Sites for Those With Suicidal Thoughts, Facts and Statistics, Education and Information Links, Prevention, Intervention & Postvention, Suicide and Guns, Groups at High Risk, Pain and Pain Management
