Colleges and Universities

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About Suicide

Planning and Implementing

Strategies

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Enter a single word or a phrase in quotes (safety or “safety planning”)

Suicide and suicidal behaviors are a major concern for colleges and universities. Suicide is a leading cause of death among college and university students in the United States (see Scope of the Problem section).¹ In addition to the students who die by suicide, many others struggle with suicidal thoughts and other mental health problems. Fortunately, colleges and universities also provide unique opportunities for comprehensive suicide prevention planning.

Recognizing the importance of addressing suicide prevention in these settings, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has provided grants to support suicide prevention in campus communities since 2005. For more on the Garrett Lee Smith Suicide Prevention Program, see our Grantees page.

Why Address Suicide Prevention

Mental health issues often first appear between the ages of 18 and 24, so colleges are uniquely situated to help these young people.²
Students’ mental health can affect their academic performance.
Suicidal thoughts and behaviors can impact the entire campus community.

How Colleges and Universities Can Take Action

The best way to prevent suicide is to use a comprehensive approach that includes these key components:

Promote social networks and connectedness
Improve access to mental health services on and off campus
Identify and assist students who may be at risk for suicide
Be prepared to respond when a suicide death occurs

References

Schwartz, A. J. (2006). College student suicide in the United States: 1990–1991 through 2003–2004. Journal of American College Health, 54(6), 341–352.
Kessler, R. C., Berglund, P., Demler, O., Jin, R., & Merikangas, K. R. (2005). Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62, 593–602.

Learn More

See the Recommended Resources below selected by SPRC personnel.
See All Resources Related to Colleges and Universities for a full list of materials, programs, trainings, and other information available from SPRC. Use the filters on the left to narrow your results.
For more on other settings and groups, see our Settings and Populations pages.

Recommended Resources

Suicide among college and university students in the United States

This information sheet presents data related to suicide and describes risk and protective factors common among college and university students.

Postvention: A Guide for Response to Suicide on College Campuses

This guide was created to help college and university professionals respond to a student suicide.

Framework for developing institutional protocols for the acutely distressed or suicidal college student

This publication lists key issues to consider in developing a comprehensive, campus-wide approach to managing at-risk students.

Framework for Successful Messaging

This website can help individuals and organizations develop messages about suicide that are strategic, safe, and positi...

Campus MHAP: A guide to campus mental health action planning

This guide provides information on how to build and sustain an effective mental health promotion and suicide prevention effort.

All Resources Related to Colleges and Universities

Displaying 167 results. Refine results using the filters on the left.

New Campus GLS Grantee (Cohort 10) Training: Overview of Required SPARS Indicators and Setting/Entering Annual Goals and Budget Estimates

2022

Voluntary Medical Leave for Students Experiencing Mental Health Difficulties at College Title II Clarifications: Principles for Developing a Leave of Absence Policy

2022

ICF Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) National Outcomes Evaluation Grante Close Out Webinar for Campus Cohort 8

2022

New Campus GLS Grantee (Cohort 11) Training: Overview of Required SPARS Indicators and Setting/Entering Annual Goals and Budget Estimates

2022

New Campus GLS Grantee (Cohort 12) Training: Overview of Required SPARS Indicators and Setting/Entering Annual Goals and Budget Estimates

2022

Overview of the GLS National Outcomes Evaluation (NOE) and IRB Processes for Cohort 12 Campuses

2022

Garrett Lee Smith National Outcome Evaluation Data Collection Instruments and Data Submission Processes for Campus Cohort 12 Grantees

2022

Jumpstarting your Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention Grant (Cohort 13)

2022

Creating a Safety Net with On- and Off-Campus Partners

2022

SPARS Training for New Garrett Lee Smith Campus Grantees: Overview of IPP Quarterly Data Entry Requirements and Annual Performance Goals and Budget Estimates

2022

Jumpstarting your Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention Grant for Cohort 14

2022

SPARS Training for New Garrett Lee Smith Campus Grantees: Overview of IPP Quarterly Data Entry Requirements and Annual Performance Goals and Budget Estimates

2022

Law Students Say They Don't Get Mental Health Treatment for Fear It Will Keep Them from Becoming Lawyers. Some States Are Trying to Change That.

2020

INTERNATIONAL: Massive Survey Finds One in Three College Freshmen Struggle with Mental Health—Here Are Four Things You Can Do

2018

Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Early Intervention and Prevention Strategies national outcomes evaluation: Report to Congress, fiscal year 2017

2018

INTERNATIONAL: Sexual Orientation Top Risk for Suicidal Thoughts in College Freshmen

2018

Most Big Public Colleges Don't Track Suicides, AP Finds

2018

NEW JERSEY: Montclair State Joins JED Campus to Expand Support for Student Mental Health

2017

A framework of recommendations for colleges and universities to support the mental health of students of color

2017

Inventive Help for Mental Health One College Student Would Suggest to Another

2017

After a campus suicide: A postvention guide for student-led responses

2017

Colleges Get Proactive in Addressing Depression on Campus

2017

CONNECTICUT: A Fresh Approach to Mental Health Programming at University of Hartford: Fresh Check Day

2017

Suicides Prompt Medical Schools to Finally Address Student Mental Health

2017

MASSACHUSETTS: Feel Good Society Looks to Increase Mental Health Awareness

2017

MICHIGAN: CAPS Expands Program, Releases New Suicide Prevention Videos

2017

MICHIGAN: Medical Students Raise Awareness for High Physician Suicide Rates

2017

ENGLAND: Student Nurses Receive ‘Mental Health First Aid’ Training

2017

Stopping Suicides on Campus

2016

Training healthcare providers and social workers in suicide prevention: A tale of three universities

2016

PENNSYLVANIA: Graphic Design Students Develop Suicide Awareness Posters

2016

MASSACHUSETTS: How Wellesley Plans to Address Suicide among Its Asian American Students

2016

ILLINOIS: “Wellness Chair Program” To Be Implemented in 50 Student Groups Next Fall

2016

VIRGINIA: Campus Suicide Crisis: A Need for Prevention

2016

Community College Students: Veterans and Non-Veterans

2016

MASSACHUSETTS: Simmons College Course Prepares Future Social Workers to Address Suicide

2016

CALIFORNIA: UC Steps Up Efforts to Address Student Mental Health

2016

NEW JERSEY: Senate Passes 'Madison Holleran Suicide Prevention Act'

2016

Healing the healers: What’s being done to address physician suicide?

2016

Survey: Half of community college students report mental health problems

2016

MASSACHUSETTS: MIT students turn their brainpower toward suicide prevention

2016

ILLINOIS: SIUE School of Pharmacy iCare grant to heighten suicide awareness

2016

Students of color aren’t getting the mental health help they need in college

2016

Starting the conversation: College and your mental health

2016

Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention Program: National outcomes evaluation

2016

Why helping civilian providers understand military culture matters

2015

NEW JERSEY: Suicide Tally

2015

MASSACHUSETTS: After cluster of suicides, MIT works to relieve student pressure, raise awareness

2015

Responding to Grief, Trauma, and Distress After a Suicide: U.S. National Guidelines

2015

Behavioral health among college students information & resource kit

2015

Schools take on stress

2015

Collaboration toolkit: California community colleges and California county behavioral and mental health departments

2015

Bibliography of suicide prevention research for colleges and universities

2015

Leaving a Legacy: Translating SPRC’s Sustainability Recommendations into Action

2015

Suicide and College Students

2014

Leading change 2.0: Advancing the behavioral health of the nation, 2015–2018

2014

Suicide among college and university students in the United States

2014

Postvention: A Guide for Response to Suicide on College Campuses

2014

Help a friend in need

2014

Illinois gatekeeper evaluation reports

2014

Comprehensive Suicide Prevention for College Campuses

2013

Connectedness & Suicide Prevention in College Settings

2013

Leaving a legacy: Recommendations for sustaining suicide prevention programs

2013

JedCampus

2013

Asian American and Pacific Islander Initiatives by Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act Grantees

2013

The academic opportunity costs of substance use during college

2013

Self-harm and suicide prevention, intervention & postvention: Lessons from North America

2013

Major depressive episode among full-time college students and other young adults, aged 18 to 22

2012

Balancing safety and support on campus: A guide for campus teams

2012

Barriers and facilitators to mental health help-seeking for young elite athletes: A qualitative study

2012

Strategic planning for campus suicide prevention

2012

College students speak: A survey report on mental health

2012

Preventing suicide on college campuses

2011

Suicide in the U.S.: Finding pathways to prevention

2011

Peer involvement in campus-based suicide prevention: Key considerations

2011

Identifying priority problems and setting goals on campus

2011

Campus MHAP: A guide to campus mental health action planning

2011

Student Support Network

2010

In the wake of trauma: Tips for college students

2010

When tragedy strikes: Suicide postvention on a college campus

2009

Generating an action plan for preventing college student suicide

2008

People Prevent Suicide

2008

Getting started on campus: Tips for new prevention coordinators

2008

Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE)

2008

Student mental health and the law: A resource for institutions of higher education

2008

Use of screening to identify and engage students at risk: Overview of campus screening

2007

Involving students as allies in suicide prevention

2007

Adapting the Air Force suicide prevention model for campuses: Cornell University

2007

Framework for developing institutional protocols for the acutely distressed or suicidal college student (Presentation)

2007

Evaluating the effectiveness of gatekeeper training: Using logic models to guide implementation and evaluation

2007

No gun left behind: The gun lobby’s campaign to push guns into colleges and schools

2007

Managing student-athletes’ mental health issues

2007

Campus example: Syracuse University and Campus Connect, A

2007

Best practices for campus suicide prevention

2007

Developing and marketing your suicide prevention message: A strategic approach (Presentation)

2006

Active Minds, Inc.: Reaching out to young adults on campus

2006

Framework for developing institutional protocols for the acutely distressed or suicidal college student

2006

Promoting mental health and preventing suicide in college and university settings (College White Paper)

2004

Suicide in youth- American Behavioral Scientist Issue

2003

Reducing alcohol problems on campus: A guide to planning and evaluation

2002

The emerging crisis of college student suicide: Law and policy responses to serious forms of self-inflicted injury

2002

A psychological autopsy of the suicide of an academically gifted student: Researchers' and parents' perspectives

2002

Safeguarding your students against suicide

2002

Why Address Suicide Prevention

How Colleges and Universities Can Take Action

Learn More

Recommended Resources

All Resources Related to Colleges and Universities

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