Distressed Student Protocol

College students are often faced with stressors on a variety of levels. In, Illinois, suicide is the 11th cause of death resulting in more than 1,000 deaths each year.  For young adults 15-34 years of age, suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death in Illinois. Suicide is among the leading causes of death for young adults and college students (CDC, 2020).

Students with depressions or anxiety are at increased risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors (Casey et.al., 2022); and, over one in four U.S. College students experienced at least one mental health condition; and 23.7% of college students were at higher risk of suicide (American College Health Association, 2020). 

CSU's mission is to promote excellence, ethical leadership, entrepreneurship, and social and environmental justice. We will embrace, engage, educate, propel and elevate our students and community to transform lives locally and globally.  These aspirations mean little if even one person dies by suicide. A zero tolerance for death by suicide is the mission for the campus. In addition, it is the goal of the counseling department to have 100% of the campus community promote suicide prevention through training, education and outreach.

American College Health Association, 2020. American college health association-national college health assessment iii: reference group executive summary fall 2020

Casey S.M., Varela A., Marriott J.P., Coleman C.M., Harlow B.L. The influence of diagnosed mental health conditions and symptoms of depression and/or anxiety on suicide ideation, plan, and attempt among college students: findings from the healthy minds study. J. Affect. Disord. 2022;298:464–471. 2018-2019.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022. Disparities in suicide.

 Protocol

 

The Columbia Protocol

The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) is a tool to assess risk and save lives. The first step is to ask.

 Brochure