Area colleges proactive in suicide prevention

The [Uniontown] Herald-Standard

A number of Pennsylvania colleges have taken steps to meet their students’ emotional and mental health needs, in an effort to reduce the risk that the stresses of campus life will trigger suicidal behavior. California University of Pennsylvania, Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, and Waynesburg University all have counseling centers that are widely used by students. Two of the schools, California University and Penn State Fayette, use online reporting systems for professionals who are trained to recognize and intervene with students identified as being at risk. Counseling professionals at the schools note that for many first-time students, the pressure of college-level work, moving away from home for the first time, and the social anxiety of meeting new people can prompt students to seek help. For older students, other issues may be foremost – marital problems, post-partum depression, or the struggles some veterans have when making the transition back to civilian life. The colleges employ a range of approaches, with common themes of reaching out to students, fostering peer support, and being aware of suicide risk factors and warning signs.