IF YOU NEED IMMEDIATE HELP OR ARE IN CRISIS
- CAPS offers 24-hour emergency mental health services for students, faculty and staff—call 479-575-5276.
- If you or someone else is an immediate danger to self or others, call 9-1-1.
If you are having thoughts of suicide, please reach out.
We care about you. You matter. You’re important to this community.
CAPS always has a mental health professional available for emergency consultations in-person (during normal business hours) and by phone.
CAPS is open 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Thursday, and 9 am to 5 pm on Fridays.
After normal business hours, on weekends, and during University breaks/holidays, a mental health professional is available for emergency phone consultations—call 479-575-5276.
If you need to talk to someone, but are not currently experiencing a mental health emergency, or you are seeking help for someone:
The 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides the caller with an available crisis counselor at a local (or as close to local) crisis center in their network.
The Crisis Text Line provides help to anyone in the U.S about any type of crisis. A live, trained crisis counselor receives the text and responds quickly. Text: HOME to 741741
- Are you a young person of color? Feeling down, stressed or overwhelmed? In crisis? The Steve Fund has created a special keyword, STEVE, that young people of color can text to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor 24/7. The Fund views text messaging as a key component of its strategy towards addressing the unmet mental health needs of college and university students of color. Through its partnership with the Crisis Text Line, the Fund promotes text messaging as a means to improve the critically needed access for young people of color to crisis counseling. Text STEVE to 741741 and a live, trained Crisis Counselor will respond.
The Trans Lifeline has a high call volume and do not have the volunteers to handle all the calls at times. They work closely with Suicide Prevention Lifeline to be more trans-aware and refer people to call SPL if they cannot talk to someone at Trans Lifeline. Call 1-877-565-8860.
The Trevor Lifeline is a crisis intervention and suicide prevention line for LGBTQ youth. Call 1-866-488-7386.
- Departments and student groups interested in receiving more personalized training, presentations, discussions or representation at an event are encouraged to contact CAPS at 479-575-5276.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Learn more about suicide prevention at National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Understanding the issues concerning suicide
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college-age individuals, which is why CAPS partners with a wide range of campus groups and departments to build comprehensive initiatives for suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention.
QPR stands for: Question, Persuade, and Refer: 3 simple steps that anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide.
Suicide is everybody’s business; look out for one another.
Medical professionals have to know CPR; however, it’s best for all of us to know it so if we see someone in danger, we are equipped to help. People trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to get a person at risk the help they need, just like someone who is trained in CPR can help someone in need and get them to professional care they need. You might be surprised and may find it useful at some point in your life with someone you know and care about.
- You may access an online QPR training by going to http://www.qprtraining.com/setup.php and entering the code UARK. Login with your University of Arkansas email address, and you will be directed to the QPR online training which will guide you through how to recognize warning signs of suicide, common myths and facts associated with suicide, tips for asking the suicide question, methods for persuading suicidal individuals to seek help, ways of referring at risk individuals to local resources.
- If you would like to have a personalized QPR training for your class, Greek house, faculty meeting, or RSO, please contact CAPS at 479-575-5276. Each attendee will receive a QPR booklet and card with information on suicide prevention, as well as resource information for treatment providers and support groups within their community. There will also be time at the end of the training for individualized Q&A.
- According to the National Mental Health Association, suicide is the second leading cause of death among college-age students, with an estimated 1,088 occurring on college campuses each year. With QPR training you can learn how to save the life of a student, friend, colleague, family member, or neighbor.
There’s no single factor that can be identified as a sign that someone wants to kill themselves. However, there are some common signs that may indicate that someone is considering suicide and may be in need of help.
- Changes in sleeping patterns or always feeling tired
- Changes in appetite or fluctuations in weight
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Overwhelming guilt
- Diminishing ability to think, concentrate or make decisions
- Expressing feelings of abandonment
- Expressing a feeling of being trapped with no way out
- A sudden positive mood despite their situation not improving
- Current or past psychiatric diagnosis (90% of individuals who die by suicide have had a mental health diagnosis)
- A past history of attempted suicide (About 20% of people who die by suicide had previously attempted suicide)
- Impulsive, self-destructive or risky behavior
- A recent loss including relationships, career failure, or a purpose in life
- Withdrawing from friends, family, and society.
- Talking or writing about death (sometimes indirectly)
- Making statements as if they are saying goodbye or joking about suicide. (“My family would be better off without me”, “I wish I could kill myself” for example)
- Suicidal individuals may communicate these sentiments through email, text messages, as Facebook posts or through other social media outlets.
- Giving away prized possessions
- Writing goodbye letters
- Seeking access to firearms, pills, or other means of committing suicide
- Trouble going to classes, showing up at work, meeting socially with others, or doing basic tasks to take care of themselves.
- Increased use of alcohol, use of other drugs
Please note: If the person you are talking to is in immediate danger, do not leave them alone. Dial 911 from a landline or if you are off-campus.
Dial UAPD Emergency 479-575-2222 from a cell phone if you are on campus.
Suicide is a difficult topic to discuss, especially with someone who is experiencing suicidal thoughts. Here’s some tips to help make it a little easier:
- When you talk to them, express your concern for them.
- Don’t be afraid to address the topic of suicide directly. Ask this person if they ever think about suicide.
- Listen to what they have to say, show interest in their concerns, offer them support, and take their situation seriously.
- Don’t swear to secrecy. When someone tells you they want to die by suicide, always consult with others and seek support.
- Help them find assistance and follow up with them after they get help.
