Counseling & Psychological Services

Thoughts of death and/or wanting to die typically accompany feelings of depression and a sense of hopelessness.  Those who consider suicide are often seeking relief from emotional pain and their attempts to feel better have not been positive.  There is often a feeling that others do not understand the extent of one’s grief, and suicide may seem like a way of expressing those feelings.  Often times, there is a sense that one’s negative feelings or experiences will never end and, in a way, suicide may become a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

Signs That You or Another May be at Risk for Attempting Suicide:

• Persistent thoughts of death and wanting to die, as well as talking about attempting suicide (e.g., “What is the point to living", "there is no reason to live", "no one would care if I were gone”)
• Difficulty sleeping and/or eating
• Feeling hopeless
• Withdrawing from relationships and/or activities that were pleasurable
• Giving away belongings or writing goodbye letters
• Past attempts at suicide and/or other forms of self harm
• Have recently experienced a significant loss (death of a loved one, loss of a job, failing grades, break up of a relationship)
• Increased use of drugs and/or alcohol

Things You Can Do:

• Recognize that thinking about suicide is a sign that one is suffering from a serious illness and that help is available.
• Seek out help by sharing your thoughts and feelings with somebody like a friend, R.A., coach, professor, counselor, campus minister, etc.
• Realize that bad feelings can pass if you attend to your distress and seek out the help of others.
• If you are concerned that a friend may be suicidal, be direct and express your concern and be willing to listen. Talking about suicide will not increase the chance that somebody will actually attempt it.
• Don’t keep secrets; rather, seek out the help of others like a friend, R.A., coach, professor, counselor, campus minister, etc.

Help is Available

It may benefit you to talk to someone at the Counseling Center. Stop by during our Initial Consultation hours Monday-Friday 8:30-11:00 a.m. & 1:00-4:00 p.m., or call (828) 262-3180. We can talk with you about your concerns. If the Counseling Center is not open and you are concerned that you or a friend may be suicidal, please refer to the emergency information listed below. You may also learn more by checking our other links, or completing an online screening.

You can also utilize ULifeline, a mental health resource, at their website.

Crisis Services

If you or another AppState student is experiencing suicidal and/or homicidal thoughts or experiencing trauma in regard to a sexual assault, you may contact us after hours by calling the Counseling Center at (828) 262-3180 and select the option to speak with the counselor on call.