SEPTEMBER 2021
Hello!
 
California Community Colleges Health & Wellness is pleased to share news and resources to help college faculty, staff, administrators, and students in their efforts to improve student mental health, health, basic needs, and wellness.
September is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month
Four young adults with arms around each other's shoulders, facing away from camera
In September, we honor those whose lives have been lost to suicide, who are survivors of suicide attempts, and who are survivors of suicide loss.
 
In September, we discuss and share suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention strategies that can save lives.
 
In September, we recognize that we can all play a role in preventing suicide—whether we are students, faculty, staff, administrators, or other members of our campus community.
  
Explore the resources below to learn how you and your campus can be leaders in suicide prevention—this month and all year.
Resources Geared Toward Students

California Community Colleges Health & Wellness developed this short tip sheet on Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Apps for students (and everyone!) to use when they are experiencing distress.

After a Campus Suicide: A Postvention Guide for Student-Led Response is a guide from Active Minds specifically written from and for the student perspective.

The Seize the Awkward Campaign offers tools—from conversation guides to tips—to facilitate uncomfortable but potentially life-saving discussions of mental health.

Check out the Jed Foundation’s Mental Health Resource Center for a wealth of resources for youth who want to improve their own mental well-being and/or are concerned about those around them.

Mental Health is Health is an MTV Entertainment Group initiative rooted in the reality that we all have mental health and need to take care of it. The initiative aims to normalize conversation, create a connection to resources and inspire action on mental health."

Using videos and tips from youth with lived experience of suicidal ideation and/or attempts, Now Matters Now teaches research-based ways for managing the most painful moments of life.
Resources for Campuses

California Community Colleges Health & Wellness assembled this overview of screening tools that colleges can implement—some paid, and several that are free: California Community College Mental Health Screening Tools

Postvention: A Guide for Response to Suicide on College Campuses from Higher Education Mental Health Alliance (HEMHA) offers practical strategies for colleges to implement before and after a student’s suicide.

Several California community colleges have hosted the Send Silence Packing Tour from Active Minds, a powerful demonstration of the importance of reaching out and seeking help (fees).

Campuses can access long-term strategic partnership for comprehensive suicide planning efforts through JED Campus (fees).
Documentaries for Campus Screenings

Wake Up: Stories from the Frontline of Suicide Prevention is a new documentary and Q&A guide co-developed by Active Minds that weaves together diverse experiences of university students, members of the LGBTQ community, Veterans, and gun owners.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s documentary It’s Real: College Students and Mental Health features the real stories and experiences of six college students who have faced mental health challenges.

The S Word is a SAMHSA-award winning documentary that explores the stories of suicide attempt survivors across the U.S., including LGBTQ, Black, and Asian American survivors. An educational version for college screenings is available from Good Docs. 
For Immediate Help: Crisis Response Lines & Chats

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255

Nacional de Prevención del Suicidio: 1-888-628-9454


Crisis Text Line: Text COURAGE to 741741

The Trevor Project (LGBTQ youth and young adults): 1-866-488-7386, text START to 678678, or visit TrevorChat (www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help-now)

Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860

Are you interested in promoting Crisis Text Line at your college? Access California Community College-specific promotion materials.

Are you a Spanish speaker who is interested in volunteering to help people in distress? Crisis Text Line is currently recruiting Spanish-speaking volunteers.