More Information & resources
- A Friend Asks
A Friend Asks is a free smart-phone app that helps provide the information, tools and resources to help a friend (or yourself) who may be struggling with thoughts of suicide. Education is the key to prevention and with information like this as close as your smartphone, you could help save a life!
- Operation Reach Out
Operation Reach Out is part of MCA-D’s effort to provide timely and effective support and guidance for military families. It's designed to:
- Encourage people to reach out for help when they are having suicidal thoughts.
- Help those who are concerned about family members, spouses, or fellow service members who may be suicidal.
- Provide a personal contact help center.
- Provide activities to help people who are depressed stay connected to others
Note: This app contains many videos segments and may take up extra memory and time to download. Video must be downloaded while connected by wifi.
- Someone threatening to hurt or kill themselves, or talking about wanting to hurt/kill their self
- Someone looking for ways to hurt or kill themselves by seeking access to firearms, available pills, or other means
- Someone talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide; when these actions are out of the ordinary for the person
- Untreated or under-treated mental illness
- Alcohol and substance abuse
- History of past suicide attempts
- Isolation or lack of social support
- Financial or social loss
- Access to lethal means
- Media that normalizes or glamorizes suicide
- Hopelessness
- Rage, uncontrolled anger, seeking revenge
- Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities, seemingly without thinking
- Feeling trapped – like there is no way out
- Withdrawing from friends, family, and society
- Anxiety, agitation, unable to sleep or sleeping all the time
- Dramatic mood changes
- Strong social support network
- Access to effective treatments
- Restricted access to lethal means
- Good problems solving and conflict-resolution skills
- Good ability to identify and regulate emotions
- Positive beliefs about the future and life in general
- Varied and effective coping strategies in dealing with stress
- Cultural and religious beliefs discouraging suicide
It is not unusual to be intimidated by talking with a mental health professional, but many students seek help at the Counseling Center or other places to assist with a broad range of concerns including adjusting to college, struggling with what they want to do with their careers, working on their relationships, feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed. There are many treatment options available on and off campus. An initial appointment at the Counseling Center can help determine what type of will be most helpful for you.
The Counseling Center can provide a variety of services for students who may be feeling hopeless or thinking about suicide. We can also assist you if you are concerned about someone you know. There are many treatment options available on and off campus. Contact the Counseling Center for at 410-704-2512 for an initial appointment to help determine what type of services best fit your needs.
Sometimes a helpful listening ear is enough to help you get through to the next time the Counseling Center is open. In this case we recommend you call one of the following local resources:
- Grassroots Crisis Intervention Telephone Hotline: A telephone counseling that uses volunteer and peer counselors, funded by Baltimore
County
Phone: 410-531-6677 - National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: A 24-hour, toll-free suicide prevention service available to anyone in suicidal
crisis
Phone: 800-273-TALK (8255)
If you use any of the above services, we urge you to call us at the Counseling Center (410-704-2512) the next time we are open, so that we can follow-up with you and assist you further.