The University of North Texas in Denton has been observing National Suicide Prevention Week with a series of events intended to bring awareness to the issue and provide resources for those struggling with thoughts of suicide.
On Monday, counselors from the Counseling and Testing Services Department hosted a Mental Health Q & A session with a focus on suicide prevention. Participants discussed topics such as coping with emotions, mental health concerns, and maintaining emotional wellness.
On Tuesday, the campus police, off-campus partners, and several student organizations gathered at the Union South Lawn for Eagle’s Nest Check-In. The event aimed to support those impacted by or concerned about suicide and to provide information on available resources, stigma reduction, mental health awareness, and positive coping skills.
A Suicide Prevention Training course was held on campus on Thursday for all students. Instructors presented “interactive training to build knowledge, awareness, and skills regarding suicide prevention.” The course covered suicide risk and prevention factors, potential warning signs, empathetic listening skills, communication skills, how to speak with friends about suicide, and how to provide referral sources, among other topics.
Rounding out the week, counselors are presenting “Building a S.T.R.O.N.G.E.R. You! Coping Skills Workshop” on Friday beginning at 1 p.m. The workshop will help participants learn and practice self-compassion, hopeful thinking, relaxation techniques, mindfulness, goal setting, emotional regulation, and more.
In Texas and across the nation, rates of suicide are on the rise.
According to the most recently available data from the CDC, 4,368 suicides were reported in Texas in 2022 and more than 49,000 nationally — averaging one death every 11 minutes, as reported by The Dallas Express. The figures show a startling 20-year growth in suicides, with 31,655 logged in 2002. The numbers steadily climbed until 2018, peaking at 48,300 suicides before dipping in 2019 and 2020 to 47,511 and 45,979, respectively.
In addition to those who died by suicide in 2022, 13.2 million people seriously thought about suicide, 2.8 million made a plan, and 1.6 million attempted to kill themselves.
Earlier this year, first responders in Fort Worth teamed up to create a new program, R3, to help address the high rates of suicide among first responders. The program’s name represents the three-fold aim of the initiative: “Respond. Restore. Resolve.”
Participants embark on a weeklong stay at a ranch where they engage in various sessions aimed at fostering healing through understanding, peer support, and mental health care strategies. The program is the first of its kind in the country, as reported by DX.
