Physical
Learn more
Physical
recognizing the need for physical activity, healthy foods, and sleep, as well as preventing illness and injury or managing chronic health conditions. • Physical Activity • Diet/Nutrition • Sleep • Disease Prevention
Annually, 11.8% of young adults aged 18 to 25 have serious thoughts of suicide. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among college students which is a statistic that has yet to take into account the isolating effects of the pandemic. Around 54% of Americans report being affected by suicide because of the high rates.
Though these figures are worrying, suicide is preventable. Oftentimes, individuals will exhibit behavior or make comments that indicate their contemplation of suicide. If we as a Northwestern community are attentive to our peers and aware of the resources available, we can ensure that our students, faculty, and staff can have a safe and supported return to campus. The transition back to on-campus activities and rigorous schedules is incredibly stressful. This time of change is the opportune moment to take care of yourself and the people around you.
In recognition of September as Suicide Prevention Awareness month, here are a few key resources offered by Northwestern and outside sources. You do not need to be a mental health professional to take advantage of these resources and make a profound difference in someone’s life.
This is not an exhaustive list, and there are plenty of resources that pertain to specific identities or scenarios. We encourage you to do your own research and ask questions if you are looking for something different than what you see below.
Direct Service
- Northwestern Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) has a crisis counselor available Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. When the office is closed, an on-call counselor is available at 847-491-2151 (press “0” at the prompt)
- The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255, this line offers a Spanish option
- The Crisis Text Line is available if you text HOME to 741741
- The Trevor Project supports LGBTQIA+ youth - their lifeline is 1-866-488-7386 or you can text START to 678-678
Training
- CAPS outlines several initial strategies to assist an individual considering suicide
- CAPS also offers QPR (Question-Persuade-Refer) Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training to any student, faculty, or staff member who would like to learn how to recognize the warning signs of suicide and act quickly to provide support
- Mental Health First Aid provides trainings across the country on how to help someone experiencing a mental health or substance-use related crisis
Advocacy
- Northwestern has a number of student-run organizations at the undergraduate level that focus on the mental health of the student body or the greater community
- The City of Evanston and NAMI Chicago sites list nonprofits and government organizations related to suicide prevention that accept donations or volunteers
Additional Resources
- The Suicide Prevention Resource Center provides a list of mental health resources to support coping with COVID-19
- The Jed Foundation is a leading nonprofit focused on preventing suicide for young adults
- You can find more resources on the CAPS page here
