Partners in Prevention aims to stop suicide
The program intends to educate students on suicide prevention.
Published Sept. 15, 2009
Partners in Prevention, a statewide substance abuse prevention program, has teamed up with 17 schools throughout Missouri to develop an online program that teaches students and faculty how to help someone who is suicidal.
The organization, which usually focuses on preventing high-risk drinking among Missouri college students, received a grant to improve a Web site originally started at the University of Central Missouri.
"Everyone's willing to help their friends when they're in a crisis situation, but people, especially students, don't usually know how to," Partners in Prevention senior coordinator Joan Masters said. "People are uncomfortable to ask, 'Are you thinking of harming yourself?'"
The MU Wellness Resource Center, which works with PIP, participated in National Suicide Prevention Week last week. Although the resource center works year-round to encourage and help students suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts, Wellness Resource Center Director Kim Dude said it is especially highlighted during National Suicide Prevention Week.
During the week the resource center held a campaign that encouraged students to ask for help.
"We have a stigma reduction campaign to increase students' help-seeking skills," Dude said.
Both PIP and the resource center work with the Web site, AskListenRefer.org, an online training program that takes users through mock situations and teaches them how to recognize when a friend or family member might be considering hurting him or herself.
The program is customized for each school, including MU. The Counseling Center has been talking to PIP for months discussing how to appropriately customize the Web site for MU students, Counseling Center Director David Wallace said.
"We really got excited to use this as another avenue for people to help friends and family who are actually thinking about harming themselves," Wallace said. "We're very pleased with the work they've done."
There are about 125 people who have completed the program, but PIP and the schools have just begun to promote the Web site to students, Masters said.
Although suicide is the second leading cause of death for college students, according to Suicide.org, those in the same age group who do not attend college are twice as likely to commit suicide, Wallace said. According to the American Association of Suicidology a suicide is committed every 15.8 minutes.
"MU, historically, has had very few suicides," Wallace said. "But we already have things in place so that is what keeps people away from that brink. There's so much support on the college campus and we really want to continue to spread that."
The Wellness Resource Center, the Counseling Center and the MU Mental Health Center offer additional programs for students and faculty members who want to learn how to help those who are suicidal. They recently offered the Question Persuade Refer program, which is a one-hour, face-to-face course.
"We can get the QPR program for just about any group that wants it," Wallace said. "Just come to (the Counseling Center) and as long as we have a location and small group of people, we can have that program run."
Masters said not enough students take advantage of the suicide support programs in place. Whenever PIP surveys students asking to whom they would turn in times of a crisis, the number one response is a friend.
"People might think they know how to help their friends, and most won't have a suicidal friend," Masters said. "But they are going to have a friend in crisis at some point. (AskListenRefer.org) gives them some suggestions rather than having to scramble at 2 in the morning for what to say."
Dude said it is important for people to watch for signs and encourage friends to get help from available resources if they are suicidal.
"People need to look for the warning signs and make sure they're there for their friends," Dude said. "If people are thinking about suicide, they need to get help. There's nothing wrong with getting help. If you break your arm, you go to the doctor. If your heart is broken, why not get help?"