National Suicide Prevention Week

Contact Information

Janice Lewis, M.A., Ed.S., NCC -- Staff Counselor/Resident in Counseling -- Coordinator of Suicide Risk Reduction Outreach -- James Madison University Counseling Center -- Student Success Center, 3rd Floor -- MSC 0801 -- Harrisonburg, VA 22807 -- Phone: (540) 568-6552 -- Fax: (540) 568-8096

Description

National Suicide Prevention Week is a time to: raise awareness of mental health and suicide prevention, decrease stigma of seeking help and offering support, as well as provide psychoeducational information on ways to prevent suicide on our campus and encourage use of those resources available. The Counseling Center tables throughout the week to share information about the events occurring (e.g. CC presentation on Reducing the Risk of Suicide at JMU, mental health speaker, interactive mental health activities). The Counseling Center also partners with additional JMU offices (in 2017: The Well & CMSS) to invite and promote the guest speaker, often from the Active Minds Speaker’s Bureau, who discusses mental health topics, mental health resources, & encourages seeking help.

Web Presence

https://www.jmu.edu/counselingctr/

Involvement

Involves Faculty, Involves Staff, Involves Students, Involves Participants External to JMU

Scope

Hburg/Local/VA

Date

National Suicide Prevention Week takes place during the beginning September. It will be held September 10th-14th during the 2018-2019 academic year.

Frequency

Recurring Event (Occurs on a regular basis but not continual)

Benefits for Faculty, Students, Community, and Institution

The events offered during National Suicide Prevention Week are free to attend, and open to the community. It benefits JMU through the involvement of students, faculty, & staff. For all those in attendance information is available to: increase awareness of available mental health resources, identify new ways to support a loved one with mental health concerns, encourage the importance of reaching out and offering help, and demonstrate the power of hope. During the Reducing the Risk presentation warning signs for identifying signs of distress are discussed as well as ways to support someone when there is concern that suicidal thoughts may be present (i.e. C.A.R.E.: Communicate care, Ask directly about suicide, Refer for help, Encourage hope). Availability of Counseling Center emergency services and consultation services are discussed, as well as area emergency support services.

Community Partner Name

JMU Health Center & Center for Multicultural Student Services

Areas of Engagement

Community Engagement, Engaged Learning

Format

Program