Suicide Prevention Overview
Suicide prevention is everyone's business. If you're interested in learning more about Suicide Prevention, please contact the Counseling and Wellness Center at 352-395-5508 to inquire about attending one of our QPR trainings.
QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) training is designed to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical, and proven suicide prevention training to faculty, staff, and students. QPR provides the knowledge to recognize warning signs so that you can help save a life.
Warning Signs
- Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves.
- Looking for a way to kill themselves, like searching online or buying a gun.
- Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.
- Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.
- Talking about being a burden to others.
- Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs.
- Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly.
- Sleeping too little or too much.
- Giving away prized possessions like a pet.
- Recently experiencing a significant loss, especially by suicide.
- Withdrawing or isolating themselves.
- Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.
- Extreme mood swings.
What you can do
- Tell the person, “I care about you and I want you to live”. Never underestimate the impact that your words can have on another person.
- Walk them to the SF Counseling and Wellness Center or reach out on their behalf. The Counseling and Wellness Center can be reached at 352-395-5508 and is located in R-227 directly above the Financial Aid Office.
- If someone is an immediate danger to themselves or others, don’t hesitate to call 911 immediately for assistance.
- If you believe someone you know is in immediate danger of killing themselves:
- Do not leave the person alone. If possible, get help from friends or family members.
- Ask the person to give you any weapons they might have. Take away or remove sharp objects or anything else that the person could use to hurt themselves.
- If the person is already in psychiatric treatment, help them to contact the doctor or therapist for guidance and help.
- Try to keep the person as calm as possible.
- Call 911 or take the person to an emergency room.
- Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-TALK (8255) or Nacional de Prevención del Suicidio 888-628-9454.