Suicide Prevention, Available Suicide Prevention Programs and Related Procedures

Op1.08 Suicide Prevention, Available Suicide Prevention Programs and Related Procedures

As required by Missouri law (Mo. Rev. Stat. §173.1200), this policy is intended to advise Missouri State University students, faculty and staff of certain national, regional and local suicide prevention programs available to students, faculty and staff on and off of Missouri State University’s campuses, the proper procedures for identifying and addressing the needs of students exhibiting suicidal tendencies or behavior, and the available university training regarding suicide prevention and response.

Suicide prevention programs available to students, faculty and staff

The university has identified certain national, state and local (on and off campus) suicide prevention resources for individuals exhibiting suicidal tendencies or behavior:

National suicide prevention hotlines

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Dial 988
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

State and local suicide prevention resources

Springfield

Burrell Access Crisis Intervention (ACI) System
1-800-494-7355 (Greene County)

Springfield Police Department
417-864-1810

Greene County Sheriff
417-868-4040

West Plains

MOCARS Access Crisis Intervention (ACI) System
1-800-356-5395 (Howell County)

West Plains Police Department
417-256-2244

Howell County Sheriff’s Office
417-256-2544
417-256-4102 (non-emergency)

Ozarks Healthcare
417-256-9111

OZH Behavioral Health Care
1-800-356-5395

On-campus suicide prevention resources

Springfield

Missouri State University Counseling Center (Monday – Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm)
417-836-5116 (dial 0 for after-hours support)
Magers Health and Wellness Center 304

Springfield Police Department Substation
417-836-5509
636 E. Elm

Magers Health and Wellness Center (Monday – Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm)
417-836-4000
1141 E. Bear Boulevard

Dean of Students Office (Monday – Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm)
417-836-5527

West Plains

Vice Chancellor of Student Services Office
417-255-7225
Lybyer Enhanced Technology Center
605 West Main Street; Room 207

Mountain Grove

Coordinator, Missouri State University-West Plains Mountain Grove
417-547-7575
Shannon Hall
401 E. 17^th Street

Mental health access programs

The university has identified the following mental health access programs, which can provide students, faculty and staff information on the availability of local mental health clinics, student health services and counseling services.

Nationwide mental health access programs

Crisis Text Line (note: individuals are volunteers and not licensed professionals)

Text MOSAFE to 741741

www.crisistextline.org (http://www.crisistextline.org/)

Veteran’s Crisis Line

Dial 988, press 1

Text: 838255

www.veteranscrisisline.net (https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/)

Greene county

Burrell Behavioral Health
1300 Bradford Parkway
Springfield, MO 65804
Phone: 417-761-5000
Fax: 417-269-7212

Howell county / Texas county / Wright county

Ozarks Healthcare Behavioral Healthcare
1-800-492-9439 or 417-257-6762
1211 Porter Wagoner Blvd.
P.O. Box 1100
West Plains, MO 65775

Springfield campus services

Missouri State University Counseling Center (Monday – Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm)
417-836-5116 (dial 0 for after-hours support)
Magers Health and Wellness Center 304

Welltrack Boost

https://missouristate.welltrack.com/

Togetherall

https://account.v2.togetherall.com/register/student

Magers Health and Wellness Center (Monday – Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm)
417-836-4000
1141 E. Bear Boulevard
health.missouristate.edu

West Plains campus services

Counseling Services

417-255-7290

Kellet Hall, Room 100

905 W. Main Street

 

Vice Chancellor of Student Services Office
417-255-7225
Lybyer Enhanced Technology Center
605 West Main Street; Room 207

Mountain Grove campus services

Coordinator, Missouri State University-West Plains Mountain Grove
417-547-7575
Shannon Hall
401 E. 17th Street

Student organizations

Additionally, Missouri State University has a variety of student-run organizations which may be beneficial for students risk of or affected by suicide.

Springfield campus

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) on Campus
https://missouristate.presence.io/organization/nami-on-campus

For a directory of student-run organizations on the Springfield campus, please see:
https://missouristate.presence.io/organizations

West Plains campus

Hope Offers People Everything (HOPE)
wp.missouristate.edu/studentorg/#Hope

Missouri State University faculty and staff services

Missouri State University offers two employee assistance programs (EAPs) for its employees and their immediate family. An EAP is a free, confidential service to help employees and their immediate family members with a wide range of problems. EAPs can provide information, support and referral services to assist with life concerns, including employee mental health concerns. The following two (2) EAPS are free, confidential and are available twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week, three hundred sixty-five (365) days a year:

Mercy EAP
https://helpwhereyouare.com/CompanyLogin/1515/mercy (passcode: msu)

UNUM EAP
 1-800-854-1446
 https://www.unum.com/support/employees/life-balance

Access more information regarding Missouri State University’s Faculty and Staff EAPs.

Resources for identifying suicide concerns

Common warning signs exist that can indicate that a person may be considering harming themselves or others. All members of the university should be aware of recognized suicide warning signs, and feel comfortable reporting concerns regarding students, faculty or staff displaying these signs. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (warning signs of suicide, https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/warning-signs-of-suicide, retrieval 12.1.23), some, but not all, suicide warning signs are:

Talking about:

• Wanting to die
• Great guilt or shame
• Being a burden to others

Feeling:

• Empty, hopeless, trapped, or having no reason to live
• Extremely sad, more anxious, agitated, or full of rage
• Unbearable emotional or physical pain

Changing behavior, such as:

• Making a plan or researching ways to die
• Withdrawing from friends, saying goodbye, giving away important items, or making a will
• Taking dangerous risks such as driving extremely fast
• Displaying extreme mood swings
• Eating or sleeping more or less
• Using drugs or alcohol more often

Concerned individuals should report these concerns to any of the national, local or campus resources indicated in this policy.

In an effort to ensure that students receive up-to-date resources regarding suicide prevention and program access information, student affairs personnel will, prior to the beginning of each academic semester, develop student communication plans which will detail the university’s outreach plan regarding educational and other outreach activities planned throughout the semester directed toward students and suicide prevention and program awareness. Student affairs personnel will work with other members of the university community, including recognized student organizations, in implementing these plans, including creating the content for distribution to students.

Similarly, university human resource personnel will develop staff and faculty communication plans which will detail the university’s outreach plans regarding educational and other outreach activities planned throughout the semester directed toward faculty and staff suicide prevention. Human resources and the provost’s office will work with other members of the university community on implementing the plans, including creating the content for distribution to university’s faculty and staff.

Post intervention plans to communicate effectively with students, staff and parents after the loss of a student to suicide

The university has developed a strategic plan to communicate with individuals impacted by the death of a student, including students whose death is caused by suicide. The plan involves the coordination of multiple members of the university in order to address a variety of issues, including but not limited to, student’s academic progress, mental health needs and any other areas that might be alleviated by university intervention.

Procedures for identifying and addressing the needs of students exhibiting suicidal tendencies or behavior, and shall provide training, where appropriate

The university has adopted an active response plan for students, faculty and staff (including residence hall staff) regarding the proper procedures for identifying and addressing the needs of students exhibiting suicidal tendencies or behavior. The university community is encouraged to actively respond to students in distress, including those students exhibiting suicidal tendencies. The university advises students, faculty and staff to:

See something

Given the unique position of students, faculty and staff to observe students in distress, faculty, staff and other students may be the first person to see something distressing in a student. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to response compassionately to students that may be exhibiting symptoms of distress, including suicidal tendencies or behaviors.

Say something

Oftentimes an initial discussion with a student in distress can identify or alleviate concerning behavior in distress and suicidal students. When engaging an individual exhibiting suicidal behaviors a faculty, staff or student should:

• Be direct: don’t be afraid to ask the student directly if they are having thoughts of harming themselves or others.
• Listen sensitively and carefully: Use a non-confrontational approach and a calm voice. Avoid threatening, humiliating and intimidating responses.
• Follow through: Direct the student to additional available resources such as the Counseling Center, dean of student’s office or other university personnel.
• Consult others and document your interaction: Document your interactions with distressed students.

Do something

Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to contact 911 or local law enforcement if a student’s conduct is clearly and imminently reckless, disorderly, dangerous or threatening including self-harm or suicidal behavior.

Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to contact the dean of student’s / dean of student services’ office or submit a report to the behavioral intervention team if a student shows signs of distress but the level of seriousness is unclear to the observing faculty, staff or student. Observing individuals are encouraged to notify the behavioral intervention team or dean of student’s office even if they are not concerned with the student’s immediate safety, but are still concerned with the student’s academic and/or personal issues.

Individuals may anonymously report any concerns regarding unsafe, potentially harmful, dangerous, violent or criminal activities, or the threat of such activities.

Availability of resources

This policy and additional information about depression and suicide prevention resources will be made available to students and will be provided to incoming students each academic semester.