Seeking Help
Call the SDCC directly and confidentially at 508-831-5540 if you or someone you know is having thoughts of harming themselves.
Common Searches:
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is the second- leading cause of death among college students, and the third-leading cause of death among all youth aged 15–24. Research has repeatedly demonstrated that suicides are preventable, particularly with early detection and intervention.
In most cases, suicidal people are depressed. The more symptoms they have, the more at risk they are. Some symptoms of depression are:
Suicide risk is greater when depression is accompanied by any of the following:
College is a time when students are at a higher risk of depression and suicide. Some factors that affect the level of students’ risk are:
This experience is unique to college students, and they can feel isolated and boxed in with no way out. In fact, most people who attempt suicide are ambivalent about dying—but they desperately want their emotional pain to end.
If any of these situations arise, call Campus Police at 508-831-5555 for assistance:
If you or a friend are not suicidal but at a high risk, call the Student Development and Counseling Center (SDCC) at 508-831-5540 to speak to a counselor.
Many times, survivors of attempted suicide express relief that their attempts failed and are grateful to those who helped prevent them from following through. Unfortunately, many loved ones left behind after a suicide are blindsided by the event. Learning how to identify the warning signs of suicide and how to react could save a person's life.
Some of the information for this section was provided by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).
We have included links to other websites and we encourage students to evaluate the materials and to use what they find to be helpful. Please keep in mind that WPI cannot assume responsibility for information on other websites.
Information on the web is not intended as a substitute for assistance from the SDCC. For personal assistance, WPI students should contact the SDCC at 508-831-5540 to schedule an appointment with one of our professional staff members.