The Role of Academic Advisors in a Campus Suicide Prevention

Program Dr. Darren A. Wozny

Assistant Professor of Counselor Education Principal Investigator and Project Director

Mississippi State University-Meridian CampusSAMHSA Campus Suicide Prevention Grant

2008 Mississippi Advisors MeetingOctober 7, 2008

Abstract The 50-minute presentation will discuss the role of academic advisors in

a campus suicide prevention program. A brief overview of the MSU-Meridian Campus Suicide Prevention

Program will be presented as a context for the presentation discussion (5 minutes).

The magnitude of the issue of suicide on college campuses will be discussed (5-10 minutes).

Common myths of suicide will be presented to help develop appropriate attitudes and knowledge base for suicide prevention/intervention (10-15 minutes).

Early warning signs of distress in college students will be presented as a participant activity to help academic advisors early identify potentially distressed students (15 minutes).

The final component of the presentation will be a discussion on how to engage with college students who present with warning signs of distress (5 minutes).

Incidence of Suicidal Behavior among College Students vs. General Population

Incidence of completed suicide among college students is 7.5/100,000 (Big Ten Universities Study, Silverman et al., 1997)

Incidence of completed suicide among those 15-24 years of age (10.4), 25-34 (12.7), 35-44 (15.1), 45-54 (16.6) (www.suicidology.org fact sheets – USA Suicide 2004 data)

Incidence of non-fatal suicide attempts is 100-200 (young 15-24 years of age) and 25 (nationally) for each completed suicide per 100,000 (www.suicidology.org fact sheets – USA Suicide 2004 data)

American College Health Association (2000) survey of 16,000 students across 28 campuses reported 9.5% suicide ideation & 1.5% had made a suicide attempt.

At-Risk College Students & Counseling Services: Need for Outreach Services

In the previous 12 months, college students surveyed: 50% reported feeling very sad; 33% reported feeling hopeless; 22% reported to be so depressed to impair

functioning (American College Health Association, 2000)

ACHA (2000) survey identified only 6.2% of males and 12.8% of females reported a diagnosis of depression (highlights that there is a large percentage of students that do not access counseling services).

Exercise: What are the reasons for students failing to seek counseling services? What can campuses do?

Disparity between Incidence of Suicide & Training of Mental Health and Campus Professionals

Wozny (2005) found that the vast majority of CACREP-Accredited Counseling programs and COAMFTE-Accredited MFT programs lack coursework in suicide assessment/intervention. Mental health professionals will need to seek out

training in suicide assessment/intervention through continuing education.

Campus personnel professionals (academic advisors) also need additional training in suicide prevention/intervention

Garrett Lee Memorial Act – SAMHSA Campus Suicide Prevention Grants

MSU-Meridian Campus Suicide Prevention Program: An Overview

Purpose: Early identification of at-risk (distressed) students, engage distressed students, implement helping interventions that may include referral for counseling services.

Program Components: Mental health network between MSU-Meridian

Campus and EAP provider (Community Mental Health Services;

Campus Crisis Response Plan to include response to student suicide threat, attempt, or completion.

MSU-Meridian Campus Suicide Prevention Program: An Overview

Program Components: Suicide Intervention Gatekeeper Training for

Campus faculty, staff, and student peer helpers; Online Clinical Screening for mental health issues

(“Campus Response” – Program Website) Student Peer Helpers Program Mental health informational materials on Program

Website Mental health promotion events & marketing Mental health anti-stigma artwork series (paintings)

Suicide Myths Quiz: College Version1. Children do not commit suicide.*

T/F2. Suicide is equally likely across the lifespan. * T/F3. Suicidal behavior among college students is rare.

T/F4. Future-orientated college students are at lower risk of suicide. T/F5. Suicidal clients clearly want to die.* T/F6. Suicide usually occurs without warning.*

T/F7. Talking about suicide will increase risk of suicide with clients.* T/F8. Clients that talk about suicide do not attempt suicide.* T/F9. Suicide attempts and completions are not influenced by gender. * T/F10. Education and wealth are protective factors against suicide.* T/F11. Suicide is unrelated to client’s psychiatric diagnosis. * T/F12. Once a suicidal client begins to improve, the risk for suicide is over.*

T/F13. Once a client attempts suicide, he/she is less likely to attempt again. T/F14. College students with stronger social support are at lower risk for suicide. T/F

Early Warning Signs of Distress in College Students

Divide into small groups and develop a list of potential warning signs in your assigned domain (10-15 minutes): Physical functioning Emotional functioning Cognitive functioning Academic functioning Social Functioning Behavioral Functioning Preparations for death

Role of Academic Advisor in Campus Suicide Prevention Program

Initial Student Engagement Role “How are things going for you outside of class?”

Initial Brief Screening for Distress Role Utilize your observational skills to monitor for any

signs of student distress Engage distressed students by indicating that you

noticed they seemed distressed

Role of Academic Advisor in Campus Suicide Prevention Program

Campus Services Orientation Role EAP contracted counseling services (unlimited

outpatient counseling for students & family members) – wallet cards with referral & emergency numbers

Online Clinical Screening for mental health issues (“Campus Response” – Program Website)

Student Peer Helpers Program (student peer helpers in same academic program

Mental health informational materials on Program Website

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 (TALK)

Role of Academic Advisor in Campus Suicide Prevention Program

Encouraging Help-Seeking Behaviors Role Academic advisors can help decrease mental health

stigma by emphasizing with all students that it is okay to talk with others about problems-in-living (that includes counselors)