Understanding Suicide

According to the American Psychiatric Association, suicide prevention is described as “knowing the risk factors, warning signs, and protective factors surrounding suicide”. Risk factors are characteristics that make it more likely that an individual will consider, attempt, or die by suicide. Protective factors make this less likely to occur. Warning signs indicate an immediate risk of suicide. We believe that students, faculty and staff can learn more about mental illness and to identify these important factors and signs early on in order to reach out to someone who may be at risk.