Health Center: Suicide & Self-Harm

• In a year, nearly 40% of college students will report feeling so depressed that it’s difficult to function.
• Nearly 50% experience some type of suicidal ideation, and some surveys report as high as 10-12% attempt suicide.
• Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students.

So if you’re experiencing suicidal thoughts, this page is for you.

Why Suicide?

People have different reasons for thinking about suicide:

• Some see suicide as a way to escape problems.
• Others see suicide as a way to end insufferable pain.
• Some people hate themselves and think they deserve to die.
• Others see themselves as a burden to loved ones.
• Some see suicide as a way to test the love of others or get revenge.

Whatever your motivation for considering suicide, UP wants to help you find hope and a way to cope with your problems. The UHC offers professional counseling and medical staff who can help you create (or recreate) a life worth living.

It’s interesting that often intense emotional stress blinds people to alternative solutions to suicide…yet other solutions are almost always available.

While some students see suicide as the solutions to end all problems…suicide can also be understood as the problem to end all solutions. And, all too often, a completed suicide is a permanent solution to what might have been only a temporary problem.

Our staff are experts when it comes to helping college students creatively solve their problems and reduce their pain. They can also provide medical assessment and medication related to emotional challenges.

If You’re Having Thoughts of Suicide:

DO Talk with Someone:

• Friend
• Family
• Roommate
• Counselor
• Nurse
• Priest/clergy
• Residence Hall staff
• Faculty
• Crisis line

Don’t:

• Don’t isolate yourself.
• Don’t drink alcohol and use other drugs. Drugs and alcohol increase the risk of suicide.

UP Resources:

University Health Center (UHC) 503-943-7134 *(during business hours 8:30-4:30 M-F)

Residence Life Staff 503-943-7205 *(during business hours 8:30-4:30 M-F)

            ** contact Hall Director or RAs at any time

Campus Ministry 503-943-7131 *(during business hours 8:30-4:30 M-F)

Campus Public Safety (PSafe) 503-943-7161 (non-emergency) *(all hours)

                                               503-943-4444 (emergency) *(all hours)

24 hour Crisis Resources:

911

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)

Multnomah County Crisis Line 503-988-4888

Self-help websites designed for students:

www.ulifeline.org

www.halfofus.com

Help is available. All you have to do is take the first step. Talk to someone.