SUICIDE PREVENTION
Help build a safer, more supportive campus community
Suicide is a leading cause of death among college students, and prevention is a shared campus responsibility. Our goal is to ensure every student feels seen, heard, and valued, which is why we offer a one-hour training for students, faculty, and staff to recognize the warning signs of suicide, respond with empathy and concern, and refer students to resources. Every Warhawk plays a role in prevention.
Join our cause, make an impact
Each spring, UW-Whitewater holds the Out of the Darkness campus walk for suicide prevention, hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and UWW’s Active Minds student group. Join fellow Warhawks to help save lives and bring hope to others.
Suicide prevention training
We all have a role to play in supporting mental health on our campus. Research shows that students are most likely to turn to peers or trusted faculty and staff when they are in distress.
Do your part to assist others who may be having thoughts of suicide. Recognize, Respond, Refer is a free suicide prevention training for UW-Whitewater students, faculty, and staff. This one-hour, self-paced Canvas course provides tools to recognize when someone may be struggling, respond with empathy and confidence, and refer them to appropriate support resources.
By completing this 60-minute training, you help create a stronger, more compassionate Warhawk community.
Recognize
Recognize signs of emotional distress or suicide risk, like behavioral changes, withdrawal, and academic struggles. Some of the most common signs in college students are listed below.
- Expressing thoughts of self-harm or suicide
- Prolonged sadness or tearfulness
- Extreme mood swings or unusual behavior or speech
- Major changes in sleep patterns (e.g., little need for sleep, oversleeping)
- Changes in personal hygiene or self care
- Changes in weight or eating behaviors or fixation on appearance
- Using drugs or alcohol more often than usual or in higher amounts
- Increased agitation, irritability, or nervousness
Respond
Respond with empathy, nonjudgmental listening, and concern.
- Initiate a private, supportive conversation: Reach out early and in a nonjudgmental way
- Listen actively and validate their experience: How you listen matters more than what you say
- Ask directly about safety when concerned: If warning signs suggest possible risk to the student, yourself, or others, be direct in asking if they are thinking about ending their life
- Act quickly in urgent situations: If there is immediate risk, prioritize safety over confidentiality. Call 911 in emergencies.
- Connect the student to appropriate resources: Encourage use of campus resources and offer to help them get to a resource
Refer
Refer students to campus or community resources in a timely and supportive way.
- UW-Whitewater Police (for emergencies)
- If the situation is an emergency regarding mental health, dial 911.
- University Health and Counseling Services (UHCS)
- UHCS offers same-day crisis appointments Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. After 4:30 p.m., call 262-472-1305 to reach an after-hours crisis counselor.
- ConnectNow through Mantra Health
- Virtual crisis care and text support are available daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., with 24/7 phone crisis support at 888-531-2142.
- External crisis resources
- Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call, text, or chat 988
- Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1
- LGBTQ+ support: Call 866-488-7386 or text 678678
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741