If you are in crisis, here are some options:

  • If you are on campus and need immediate assistance, call Campus Security at (253) 879-3311 ext. 3311.

  • If you are off-campus and need immediate assistance, call 911.

  • Options if you need someone to talk to:

    • Pierce County Crisis Line: (800) 576-7764

    • National Suicide Prevention Hotline (800) 273-TALK (8255)

    • MultiCare (24 hours) Consulting Nurse Line (253) 792-6411 (they require your Puget Sound ID number)

The following links provide some excellent information about preventing suicide, warning signs, and how to access help; no web search can be a substitute for getting help from a caring, trained professional. This is true whether you are considering suicide or are concerned about someone who may be. CHWS staff are available to consult with all members of the Puget Sound community to help consider the best ways to assist someone distressed, given the uniqueness of each person and their circumstances.

Suicide Prevention at the University of Puget Sound
Concern about the possibility of suicide is understandable on any college campus. We know that suicide is the second-highest cause of death (following accidents) nationally for people in the college-age group. To continue the work of making Puget Sound as safe an environment as possible, we need suicide prevention to be everyone's responsibility. None of us can see and hear all that goes on around us, so we all have to be alert to signs of distress in others.

Several components of the campus suicide prevention plan can be found online. A consistent theme throughout these prevention elements is our commitment to protecting students who may be considering suicide and preserving the quality of life for the community surrounding that person. If you are looking for resources specific to faculty and staff, please go to the Resource KIT.

Here are some off-campus websites we trust to provide thought and accurate guidance to those concerned about suicidal feelings and behaviors.

Ulifeline.org
This site includes lots of resources specifically developed for a college population. ULifeline includes self-evaluations, links to other resources, including links back to the CHWS site.

Suicide: Read This First
This is an excellent resource for persons experiencing suicidal thoughts. It is a compelling, well-written site that offers various alternatives to suicide and strategies for increasing effective coping.

American Association of Suicidology
An organization of persons focused on suicide, including researchers, clinicians, preventionists, crisis workers, and survivors of suicide. This site provides statistics, basic information on how to intervene with a suicidal person, and phone numbers for local agencies.