September is Suicide Prevention Month, and suicide is a serious matter that individuals should always seek to understand. In addition, Suicide Prevention Month is designated to bring as much awareness to the subject as possible and let those who may be struggling know that there are people who care and can help.
Scott Poland, a licensed psychologist and professor is the director of the NSU Suicide and Violence Prevention Office, was directly impacted by suicide when he was 25 years old and lost his father. He became more familiar with the subject when he worked as a psychologist and learned that there are many myths and misperceptions when it comes to suicide and it is not inherited or destiny. At one moment, someone may see their life as a blur of never-ending problems, but then later, they may see hope.
Poland said that it is important to understand that, “at the foundation is untreated mental illness” and that’s what we need to bring awareness to. Many may be silently suffering from pain and that affects their ability to find hope.
It’s important to be aware of certain behaviors that can potentially be warning signs of suicide. These signs may include statements about death, either verbally or written, giving away prized possessions and hopelessness for the future.
“Most [people] don’t know the warning signs and are afraid to bring up the subject,” said Poland.
That’s when it becomes vital to say something directly. When asking someone about suicidal thoughts, there may be a concern that mentioning the subject may put a negative idea in their head. However, Poland says that we need to be able to talk about it more — it may be frightening to mention the subject to one who is struggling, but it shows that there is a support system out there.
NSU works year-round to prevent suicide and can lend a helping hand to those that need it. Starting this year, every freshman in the UNIV 1000 course will complete a suicide prevention training module, and there will be training for instructors as well. When it comes to preventing suicide, people need to stay connected.
“Suicide is the second leading cause of death for college students [because] isolation is a significant factor in suicide. It’s not always about treatment, but about information,” said Poland.
Suicide is one of the major causes of death, not just among college students, but among people all around the world. NSU is doing everything they can to bring awareness this month.
For more information, check out the NSU Student Care Team at nova.edu/studentcare or call (954)-262-7482. Additionally, the NSU Center for Student Counseling and Wellbeing is available at (954)-262-7050. For their 24/7 hotline, call (954)-424-6911.
