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SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM

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        • OSUSPP is a stand-alone office supported by Student Life, the College of Education and Human Ecology, the Graduate School, and Military and Veterans Services. We are located on the 4th floor of the Physical Activity and Educational Services (PAES) building.

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          Suicide is complicated and tragic, but it is often preventable. We can decrease suicide and suicide attempts by increasing student, staff, and faculty knowledge and adaptive attitudes about help-seeking and reducing the stigma of mental illness, as well as acknowledging the importance of seeking help or treatment. Knowing the warning signs, risk factors, and protective factors can help save lives.

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          A main service provided by The Suicide Prevention Program Are REACH© Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Trainings. These trainings help faculty, staff, and students Recognize warning signs, Engage with empathy, Ask directly about suicide, Communicate hope, and Help Suicidal individuals to access care and treatment.

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          Outreach opportunities and program events are important to promoting a campus culture of care, increasing suicide prevention knowledge and advocacy, building connections, and fostering hope. As such, OSUSPP offers a variety of ways to engage students, staff, and faculty in our suicide prevention efforts.

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        • GET HELP NOW

          • Call 911 if you are in immediate physical danger
          • Local 24/7 Suicide Prevention Lifeline
            614.221.5445
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            800.273.8255
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            800.273.8255, press 1 or text 838255
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            Text “HOPE” to 741741
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            614.292.5766
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Home / Prevention And Intervention / For Parents

For Parents

  • As a parent, you can approach suicide prevention in the same way you do other safety or health issues for your children. By educating yourself, you can learn what puts kids at greatest risk for suicide – and what protects them most strongly.
    • Boys take their lives at 3-4 times the rate of girls. However, the rate has unfortunately been rising since 2006. The suicide rate for teen girls had a similar but less dramatic pattern. There has been an increase for girls over the last 10-12 years.
    • As a parent, you can teach and model healthy habits for mental health just as you would with physical health. Taking care of your own mental health, talking about it openly, and seeking therapy when warranted is one way to model healthy practices. They may develop flexibility and compassion for their own missteps — possibly even empathy for others, seeing how you navigate challenging times.
    • You know your child. You know their usual patterns, their common reactions to frustration and challenges, and what their good days and bad days look like. Trust your instincts if their behavior goes beyond these usual patterns of behavior. If your teen or tween’s sleep, energy, appetite, motivation, substance use, and frustration aren’t bouncing back to normal after a few days, have them see their pediatrician or a mental health practitioner.
    • Don’t be afraid to have a conversation with your child about mental health and suicide. Ask your child how they’re doing, what’s happening in their world these days, and what their concerns are. It can start simply by asking, “Are you okay?” Listen intently and without judgment. Resist the urge to offer quick fixes or solutions to their challenges, which tends to shut down further dialog. Validate and support their feelings
    • If your child isn’t ready to talk, leave the invitation open for later by saying, “Whenever you want to talk, I’m here to listen and support you.” You could add “I won’t judge, and I’ll never stop supporting you, no matter what challenges you face.”
    • If your child is talking about any level of distress, do not hesitate to ask them whether they’re feeling changes in their mood or level of stress, or having suicidal thoughts. Asking your child directly about suicide will not increase their risk, or plant the idea. It will create an opportunity to offer support, and let them know you care enough to have the conversation.
      • Information provided by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Know The Risk Factors

  • Identify Risk Factors

Know The Warning Signs

  • Recognize the common signs

How To Intervene

  • Learn how to intervene
The Ohio State University

College of Education and Human Ecology
Office of Student Life

The Ohio State University Suicide Prevention Program
305 Annie & John Glenn Avenue
PAES Building, A424
Columbus, Ohio 43201
suicideprevention@osu.edu

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