Fresno State and the general community are observing September as Suicide Prevention Month. The Student Health and Counseling Center (SHCC) and local mental health services aim to bring awareness to resources for the Fresno community.
The goal of Suicide Prevention Month is to bring awareness to suicide, eliminate the social stigma around mental health and offer resources and services to those in need.
“Talking about suicide is so important because it gives that person a chance to vocalize their thoughts and feelings,” said Danielle Mendoza, mental health educator at Fresno State. “Asking in a caring but direct way can lead to the suicidal person to feel cared about and seen.”
The SHCC offers resources such as a nationally recognized suicide prevention training known as Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR), and one-on-one counseling and crisis counseling for students. The SHCC also has an after-hours phone line that students can call outside of business hours.
“It’s great for Fresno State because everybody needs to know about it to some extent,” said Adrian Ramos, a senior majoring in business administration. “There is a lot of people that come from places where, in their environment, they were never taught.”
Mental health resources are available to anyone, all across the city of Fresno. Fresno Cares is a one-stop shop dedicated to informing the public on available national and local resources, suicide prevention training and information.
Another resource is Hinds Hospice, a non-profit agency dedicated to offering support for survivors of suicide loss and destigmatizing mental health. The agency offers services such as grief support groups, workshops and memorial events.
According to Mendoza, the Fresno community loses around 100 people to suicide per year, making it about two people per week on average. Leading causes for suicide are complex and can vary from mental health illness, substance abuse, trauma and major life changes.
People express suicide ideation in various ways through verbal, behavioral and situational ways. Some signs someone may be experiencing suicidal ideation include mood changes, reckless behavior and drug and alcohol abuse, according to Mendoza.
“Stressors may outweigh coping capacities, which is why it is so important for us to share resources of support to those struggling, and for us as a culture to work to end the stigma associated with reaching out for support in challenging times of life,” said Kathleen Cromwell, executive director of Hinds Hospice.
The average person can help those in need by knowing the signs and finding the time and words to ask that person if they are feeling suicidal. Directly asking if someone is suicidal can help, as it allows them the space to voice their frustrations and be listened to.
“Ask directly about suicide, talking about suicide does not put the idea in someone’s head, and usually they are relieved,” said Solomon Vang, a representative of Fresno Cares. “Asking directly and using the word ‘suicide’ establishes that you and the person at risk are talking about the same thing and lets the person know that you are willing to talk about suicide.”
On Sept. 10, the SHCC is hosting a suicide prevention speaker, Josh Rivedal, at the Peters Educational Center from 4 – 6 p.m.
Fresno State students are encouraged to come visit, as the event will combine both stand-up comedy and discussions about mental health.
SHCC after-hours phone line: (559) 278-2724.
Suicide Hotline: 988
