Suicide Prevention Resources

Robert Morris University is committed to suicide awareness and prevention in our community. We demonstrate this commitment by providing mental health and crisis services, education and outreach, and information about local resources to our students, faculty, and staff. Please see the information below for details about our Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan. 

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis and/or suicidal thoughts, immediate help is available on campus and in the local community.

If you need immediate help and are located on campus, please contact the University Police at 412-397-2424.  For an off-campus emergency, call 911.

Hotline Contact Information

Local Hotlines

  • Resolve Crisis (Allegheny County): call 1-888-796-8226 
    Resolve Crisis is free for all Allegheny county residents and available 24/7. Everyone experiences moments of crisis in life. You might be struggling with depression or substance use. Or maybe you’re overwhelmed by problems at work, feeling lonely, or having a conflict with a loved one. Whether your problem is large or small, talking with someone can help. Most of all, don’t wait for a problem to get out of control.
  • PAAR: call 1-866-363-7273
    PAAR provides confidential support and information, 24 hours a day. Helpline counselors and staff are available to talk with survivors, their families and friends, and providers about sexual violence. A help line counselor can: support you in the healing process, help you understand your options, connect you with available resources and PAAR services, and connect you to in-person support at emergency departments and police stations 24/7.
  • Center for Victims: call 1-866-644-2882
    Caring professional staff is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week to respond to emergency needs of crime victims and witnesses, answer questions, and provide support. The hotline serves as the gateway to all of their services. Anyone can call the hotline seeking help for themselves or others, including victims and witnesses and their families or friends, law enforcement, hospitals, social workers or mental health professionals. Staff helps the caller to identify their needs and resources including those provided by Center for Victims and other community organizations.

National Hotlines

  • 988 Lifeline: call or text 988 or visit the website to begin an online chat
    The 988 Lifeline is a service that is available for everyone. Through the 988 Lifeline, you have access to free, quality, one-on-one assistance. Skilled and judgement-free counselors are available to provide compassionate support and resources. Everyone deserves to feel heard and cared about anytime, anywhere, 24/7/365.
    What to expect
  • Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741
    Crisis Text Line is a global mental health organization dedicated to supporting people in their most difficult moments. They focus on both crisis intervention and prevention, providing free, 24/7, confidential support through a text-based platform that meets people where they are. Their volunteer Crisis Counselors support people through challenges like stress, anxiety, loneliness, bullying, substance use, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts—empowering texters to draw on their strengths and coping skills. 
  • Trevor Project: call 866-488-7386 or text START to 678678
    The Trevor Project is the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit organization for LGBTQ+ young people. They provide information & support to LGBTQ+ young people 24/7, all year round. Call, text, or chat with them anytime you need support. If you are thinking about suicide or feeling lonely, they are here to listen. 
    What to expect
  • Veterans Crisis Line: call 988 then press 1 or text 838255
    Free, 24/7, confidential support is a click away. The Veterans Crisis Line can help even if you’re not enrolled in VA benefits or health care. 
    What to expect
Crisis Intervention Services

On-Campus

  • Business Hours (Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 5 PM) 
    • Students can schedule a crisis appointment by calling 412-397-5900 or walking in to the Counseling Center during business hours.
    • Faculty, staff, or family members may also call the Counseling Center to report concerns about a student who may be in crisis and/or walk a student down to the center. 
  • After Hours (After 5 PM and on weekends/holidays)
    • Students experiencing a mental health emergency on campus may contact the Residence Life Emergency Line or University Police for after hours crisis support.
      • Residence Life Emergency Line - 412-397-5242
      • University Police - 412-397-2424

Off-Campus

  • Resolve Crisis (Allegheny County): 1-888-796-8226 (24/7)
    Resolve Crisis is free for all Allegheny county residents and available 24/7. Everyone experiences moments of crisis in life. You might be struggling with depression or substance use. Or maybe you’re overwhelmed by problems at work, feeling lonely, or having a conflict with a loved one. Whether your problem is large or small, talking with someone can help. Most of all, don’t wait for a problem to get out of control.
Mental Health Services

On-Campus

  • The RMU Counseling Center provides free and confidential mental health services, including counseling and crisis intervention, to currently enrolled students. Appointments are available in-person and via telehealth. For more information about services offered, click here. 

    Phone: 412-397-5900
    Email: counseling@rmu.edu

Off-Campus

The RMU Counseling Center maintains an updated list of local referrals, including speciality services and higher levels of care, that can be shared upon request. Please email counseling@rmu.edu to request more information.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

  • LifeSolutions: 1-844-833-0527 (TTY: 711), Company code: RMU
    RMU employees can receive mental health support through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Phones are answered 24/7/365 by clinicians who take a consultative approach. Counseling sessions can be held in person, by telephone, virtually, and even by texting or chatting. Employees can receive up to 6 sessions per issue for help with depression, anxiety, and stress; substance or alcohol misuse; family and relationship issues; grief and loss; health coaching; burnout and exhaustion; and caregiver stress.
Suicide Risk Factors, Protective Factors, and Warning Signs

While there is no single cause for suicide, there are risk factors and warning signs which may increase likelihood of an attempt. Learning them can save lives.

Risk Factors

Risk factors are characteristics or conditions that increase the chance that a person may try to take their life.

Health

  • Mental health conditions
  • Serious physical health conditions including pain
  • Traumatic brain injury

Environmental

  • Access to lethal means including firearms and drugs
  • Prolonged stress, such as harassment, bullying, relationship problems or unemployment
  • Stressful life events, like rejection, divorce, financial crisis, other life transitions or loss
  • Exposure to another person’s suicide, or to graphic or sensationalized accounts of suicide
  • Discrimination

Historical

  • Previous suicide attempts
  • Family history of suicide
  • Childhood abuse, neglect or trauma
  • Generational trauma

Protective Factors

  • Access to mental health care, and being proactive about mental health
  • Feeling connected to family and community support
  • Problem-solving and coping skills
  • Limited access to lethal means
  • Cultural and religious beliefs that encourage connecting and help-seeking, discourage suicidal behavior, or create a strong sense of purpose or self-esteem

Warning Signs

Something to look out for when concerned that a person may be suicidal is a change in behavior or the presence of entirely new behaviors. This is of sharpest concern if the new or changed behavior is related to a painful event, loss, or change. Most people who take their lives exhibit one or more warning signs, either through what they say or what they do.

Talk

If a person talks about:

  • Killing themselves
  • Feeling hopeless
  • Having no reason to live
  • Being a burden to others
  • Feeling trapped
  • Unbearable pain

Behavior

Behaviors that may signal risk, especially if related to a painful event, loss or change:

  • Increased use of alcohol or drugs
  • Looking for a way to end their lives, such as searching online for methods
  • Withdrawing from activities
  • Isolating from family and friends
  • Sleeping too much or too little
  • Visiting or calling people to say goodbye
  • Giving away prized possessions
  • Aggression
  • Fatigue

Mood

People who are considering suicide often display one or more of the following moods:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Loss of interest
  • Irritability
  • Humiliation/Shame
  • Agitation/Anger
  • Relief/Sudden Improvement
Communicating with Someone Who May Be Suicidal

The following five action steps for communicating with someone who may be suicidal are supported by evidence in the field of suicide prevention.

1-ASK:

Asking the question “Are you thinking about suicide?” communicates that you’re open to speaking about suicide in a non-judgmental and supportive way. Asking in this direct, unbiased manner, can open the door for effective dialogue about their emotional pain and can allow everyone involved to see what next steps need to be taken. Other questions you can ask include, “How do you hurt?” and “How can I help?” Do not ever promise to keep their thoughts of suicide a secret.

The flip side of the “Ask” step is to “Listen.” Make sure you take their answers seriously and not to ignore them, especially if they indicate they are experiencing thoughts of suicide. Listening to their reasons for being in such emotional pain, as well as listening for any potential reasons they want to continue to stay alive, are both incredibly important when they are telling you what’s going on. Help them focus on their reasons for living and avoid trying to impose your reasons for them to stay alive.

2-BE THERE:

This could mean being physically present for someone, speaking with them on the phone when you can, or any other way that shows support for the person at risk. An important aspect of this step is to make sure you follow through with the ways in which you say you’ll be able to support the person – do not commit to anything you are not willing or able to accomplish.

3-HELP KEEP THEM SAFE:

First of all, it’s good for everyone to be on the same page. After the “Ask” step, and you’ve determined suicide is indeed being talked about, it’s important to find out a few things to establish immediate safety. Have they already done anything to try to kill themselves before talking with you? Does the person experiencing thoughts of suicide know how they would kill themselves? Do they have a specific, detailed plan? What’s the timing for their plan? What sort of access do they have to their planned method? The more steps and pieces of a plan that are in place, the higher their severity of risk and their capability to enact their plan might be. 

If they have immediate access to a firearm or medications and are very serious about attempting suicide, then extra steps (like calling for emergency help or driving them to an emergency department) might be necessary. The 988 Lifeline can always act as a resource during these moments as well if you aren’t entirely sure what to do next. If you need immediate help and are located on campus, please contact the RMU Police at 412-397-2424.  For an off-campus emergency, call 911.

4-HELP THEM CONNECT:

Helping someone with thoughts of suicide connect with ongoing supports (such as the 988 Lifeline or the RMU Counseling Center) can help them establish a safety net for those moments they find themselves in a crisis. Explore some of these possible supports with them – are they currently seeing a mental health professional? Have they in the past? Is this an option for them currently? Are there other mental health resources in the community that can effectively help? 

Research has shown that individuals who called the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (now the 988 Lifeline) were significantly more likely to feel less depressed, less suicidal, less overwhelmed, and more hopeful by the end of calls.

5-FOLLOW UP:

After your initial contact with a person experiencing thoughts of suicide, and after you’ve connected them with the immediate support systems they need, make sure to follow-up with them to see how they’re doing. Leave a message, send a text, or give them a call. The follow-up step is a great time to check in with them to see if there is more you are capable of helping with or if there are things you’ve said you would do and haven’t yet had the chance to get done for the person.

Mental Health Awareness Training

A.I.D. Training

A.I.D. is a 60 to 90-minute evidence-based mental health awareness training, delivered in-person or virtually, that teaches individuals how to interact effectively with someone experiencing mental distress using three steps:

  • Awareness: Recognizing signs and symptoms of distress
  • Interaction: Effectively interacting with someone in distress
  • Direction: Locating and providing resources to individuals in distress
     
  • Other key components of this training include:
    • Educating trainees on local and national mental health resources
    • Practicing the A.I.D. action plan using relevant scenarios 
    • Reducing stigma about mental illness and substance use
    • Promoting self-care

A.I.D. training is available by request to all students, faculty, and staff by contacting counseling@rmu.edu. Student leaders are trained on an annual basis.

Communication Plans

Suicide Prevention Communication Plan

The RMU Counseling Center will distribute mental health and suicide prevention information in an email to all students, faculty, and staff at the start of the Fall and Spring semesters. The email will include crisis intervention and hotline information, as well as a link to the Suicide Prevention Resources website.

During the Fall and Spring semesters, information about upcoming mental health and suicide prevention outreach events will be advertised via Instagram (@rmu_thrive).

Post-Intervention and Communication Plan

Following the death of a student or employee, the university will provide targeted support and communication to impacted students, faculty, and staff. Additionally, campus-wide communications will be shared via email, as appropriate.