SEPTEMBER IS SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH

September Is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

A reminder from the GCSU Department of Public Safety: Check in. Speak up. Listen. Be there.

College can be an exciting time filled with new experiences, friendships and opportunities—but it can also bring academic pressure, relationship challenges, financial concerns, homesickness and other stressors. Sometimes, those challenges can become overwhelming.

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, providing an opportunity for the GCSU community to look out for one another and recognize that asking for help is a sign of strength.

Check in with the people around you. You don't always have to know exactly what to say or have the answers. Sometimes, simply reaching out can make a difference.

Send the text. Make the call. Invite someone to grab coffee or take a walk. Ask a friend, classmate or roommate how they are doing—and take the time to listen.

Pay attention when someone you know begins to:

• Withdraw from friends, activities or campus life
• Lose interest in things they normally enjoy
• Struggle significantly with school or daily responsibilities
• Express feelings of hopelessness or being a burden
• Experience noticeable changes in mood or behavior

These signs do not necessarily mean someone is considering suicide, but they can be reasons to check in and offer support.

Don't be afraid to ask

If you are concerned about someone, it is okay to start the conversation. A simple “Are you okay?” or “I've noticed you haven't seemed like yourself lately. Do you want to talk?” can open the door.

You do not have to solve the problem yourself. Your role may simply be to listen, take the concern seriously and help connect the person with someone who can provide support.

If you need help, reach out

If you are struggling, you are not alone—and you do not have to wait until things become a crisis to ask for help.

GCSU Counseling Services provides support to students and can be reached at 478-445-5331. Students can also speak with a counselor 24 hours a day through the GCSU 24/7 Emotional Support Line at 833-855-0085.

If you or someone else is experiencing a mental health crisis or is at immediate risk of harming themselves or someone else, call 911, contact GCSU Public Safety at 478-445-4400, or call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

At GCSU, creating a safe and supportive campus is a shared responsibility. You may never know how much a simple conversation, a phone call or taking the time to listen can mean to someone who is struggling.

You matter. Your friends matter. Your Bobcat family matters.

This September, take a moment to check in with the people around you.

Check in. Speak up. Listen. Be there.