Story and Photos by KORTNEY LANG
Tiger Media Network
FHSU Health and Wellness Services has committed itself to making a difference and promoting mental health awareness. One way they are doing so is by handing out honor beads today on World Suicide Prevention Day.
“[Each color of these honor beads] “signifies a different person who has struggled with suicide or mental illness,” said Jennifer Pfeifer, a counselor with FHSU Health and Wellness.
According to Pfeifer, it is very important to recognize the importance of mental health, especially as FHSU students adjust to their new surroundings.
“[It is] really important to provide specialized support to college students as they’re in this transitioning period in their lives,” she said.
Recognizing the growing need for mental health awareness, FHSU offers a wide range of services to students who are in need. In the Fischli-Wills Center for Student Success, Crisis Support is offered on the Third Floor, Room 301. This office is available to any student who is in need of immediate mental health or medical assistance. FHSU also promotes personal counseling, and works with local outsourced counseling centers to ensure that students are able to get the help they need. Each of these services are provided free of charge to students.
The National Institute of Mental Health recognizes signs of suicide to be aware of. These are behaviors that one may conduct if they are thinking about suicide, including Talking about great guilt or shame, being a burden to others, and wanting to die. Feeling; empty, hopeless, trapped, or having no reason to live, extremely sad, more anxious or agitated, unbearable emotional or physical pain. Changing Behavior; withdrawing from friends, giving away important items, taking dangerous risks (such as driving extremely fast), displaying extreme mood swings, eating or sleeping more or less, using drugs or alcohol more often.
FHSU is committed to providing care for both their students and faculty in any way that they need and recognizes the need for mental-well well-being so that students can thrive both academically and personally.
In addition to FHSU’s Crisis Support, there are many other local crisis care providers listed below that students can access.
If you, or anyone you know is dealing with mental health, please contact one of the services below for help.
Local Crisis Care Providers:
FHSU Health and Wellness Services: 785-628-4401
FHSU Police: 785-628-5304 – After Hours: Hays Police Department: 911
Hays Medical Center Emergency Department: 785-623-5555
High Plains Mental Health Center: 785-628-2871 (24-Hour Phone Number: 1-800-432-0333)
Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services: 1-800-794-4624 or Text “HOPE” to 847411
Crisis Helplines:
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or Text 988; Call 1-800-273-8255
Crisis Text Line: Text “HOME” to 741741
Kansas Crisis Hotline for Sexual and Domestic Violence: Call 1-888-363-2287
National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233); Text “START” to 88788; Online chat also available
National Sexual Assault Hotline (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network–RAINN): Call 1-800-656-HOPE (4673); Online chat also available
Poison Control Help Line: Call 1-800-222-1222
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Hotline: Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and then Press 1; Text 838255; Online chat also available
If you are in need of immediate mental health assistance please dial 988 (National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline).
Reference:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Warning signs of suicide. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/warning-signs-of-suicide
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