Suicide Prevention Plan

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Suicide Prevention

At times, the challenges of life can become increasingly hard to navigate and can lead to feelings of distress and thoughts of self-harm. The College wants to ensure that all students, faculty, and staff are aware of the risk factors, warning signs, and resources available to anyone experiencing a mental health crisis. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, there are many ways to get immediate help.

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Suicide Prevention Hotlines

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline logoNational

State and Local

  • Berks County Crisis – 610-379-2007
  • Bucks County Mobile Crisis (Lenape) – 1-877-435-7709
  • Chester County Crisis (Holcomb) – 610-280-3270
  • ChildLine, child abuse hotline – 1-800-932-0313
  • Delaware County Crisis (Elwyn) – 1-855-889-7827
  • Montgomery County Mobile Crisis – 1-855-634-HOPE (4673)
  • Philadelphia Crisis – 215-685-6440
  • Veterans Crisis Line – Dial 988 and press 1 or text: 838255
  • WhyHunger  food helpline – 1-800-5-HUNGRY (486479)

Crisis Intervention Services

On Campus (24hrs/day)

Contact the College’s Department of Public Safety.

  • Blue Bell Campus – 215-641-6666
  • Pottstown Campus – 610-718-1913

Off Campus (mobile crisis response; 24hrs/day)

  • Montgomery County Mobile Crisis is here to help you. Montgomery County Mobile Crisis provides not only immediate support for crisis situations, but also assistance with managing recurring or future crises. Support is available to anyone in Montgomery County (including children, teens, adults, and families) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-855-634-HOPE (4673)
  • Bucks County Crisis Services Line – 1-800-499-7455
  • Chester County Crisis Services – 610-280-3270
  • Delaware County Crisis Connections Team – 1-855-889-7827
  • Lehigh County Crisis Intervention – 610-782-3127
  • Philadelphia County 24-Hour Mental Health Delegate Line – 215-685-6440

Mental Health Services

Certain services may also be accessible via a mobile device.

TimelyCare Telehealth for Students

Montco provides convenient, personal, and professional mental health and telehealth support to students through TimelyCare. This digital space offers counseling, therapy, psychiatry, and telehealth services from licensed providers. Current students can access the log in details through Montco Connect.

Resources for Employees

Carebridge is the College’s employee assistance program that offers free and confidential guidance and counseling available 24/7 with licensed clinicians; support options include 10 in-person or telehealth referrals, text, and chat.  Find information about Carebridge.

Local Support

Support Groups

National Support & Hotlines

How to Help Someone Else 

Here are 5 steps you can take to #BeThe1To help someone who is having thoughts of suicide:

Visual steps for action steps to help someone having thougts of suicide

ASK: “Are you thinking about suicide?” It’s not an easy question to ask, but it can help start a conversation. Studies show that asking people  if they are suicidal does not increase suicidal behavior or thoughts.

BE THERE: Listening without judgment is key to learning what the person is thinking and feeling. Research suggests acknowledging and talking about suicide  may reduce suicidal thoughts.

HELP KEEP THEM SAFE: Reducing access to highly lethal items or places can help prevent suicide. Asking the person if they have a plan and making lethal means less available or less deadly can help the person stay safe when suicidal thoughts arise.

HELP THEM CONNECT: Connecting the person with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline  (call or text 988) and other community resources can give them a safety net when they need it. You can also help them reach out to a trusted family member, friend, spiritual advisor, or mental health professional.

FOLLOW UP: Staying in touch with the person after they have experienced a crisis or been discharged from care can make a difference. Studies show that supportive, ongoing contact  can play an important role in suicide prevention.

Learn more about suicide prevention and the #BeThe1To campaign.

Suicide Warning Signs and Risk Factors

Warning Signs

  • Talking about suicide, wanting to die, kill oneself
  • Looking for a way to kill oneself, such as searching online or buying a gun
  • Having a plan for carrying out suicide
  • Talking about feeling worthless, hopeless, or having no reason to live
  • Talking about being a burden to others
  • Suddenly happier and calmer, especially after a period of depression or sadness
  • Giving away prized possessions
  • Getting affairs in order, making arrangements
  • Increasing alcohol or drug use
  • Preoccupation with death
  • Acting anxiously or agitated; behaving recklessly.
  • Sleeping too little or too much.
  • Withdrawal from or changing in social connections/situations
  • Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.
  • Displaying extreme mood swings.
  • Anger or hostility that seems out of character or out of context
  • Recent increased agitation or irritability

Risk Factors

  • Diagnosis of depression
  • Previous suicide attempt
  • Family history of suicide
  • Loss of job, home, money
  • Death or terminal illness of a loved one
  • Divorce or loss of major, significant relationship
  • Loss of health, either real or imagined
  • Someone close to the person has completed suicide
  • Recent disappointment or rejection
  • Being expelled from school/fired from job
  • Sudden loss of freedom/fear of punishment
  • Victim of assault or bullying
  • Questioning gender

Reference: Prevent Suicide PA website.

What to Expect if You Seek Help

Emergency Care: What to Expect
  • If you call 9-8-8:

    When someone calls 988, they first hear a greeting message. You are given choices of who to connect with in the greeting; the 988 Lifeline has specially trained counselors for Veterans (through the Veterans Crisis Line, operated by the Veteran’s Administration), Spanish speakers and LGBTQI+ youth and young adults. Your call is then routed to one of the national networks or a local 988 Lifeline network crisis center based on your selections and then based on your phone’s area code. A trained crisis counselor answers the phone, listens to you, works to understand how your problem is affecting you, provides support, and shares resources, if needed.
  • If you call Mobile Crisis:

    Your location and name will be inquired about by the caller. They might also inquire about the type of insurance you have, as this information will be helpful if they need to contact care. They will listen to you and offer support and encouragement as you discuss what is going on and how you are feeling. They will offer to follow up with you and put you in touch with resources like counseling if, after talking with you, you start feeling better. A crisis worker will come meet you at a location of your choice if you believe that you are still in crisis. They will then talk with you and assist you in determining what kind of assistance you require. If the crisis worker, whether in person or over the phone, believes you are in imminent danger, they will call for emergency response.
  • If you go to an Emergency Room:

    Bring an identification document, insurance card, emergency contact information, and an extra change of clothes, if feasible. The check-in clerk will meet you when you arrive. Tell them why you are in the area. You might need to wait in the waiting area for a while, depending on how serious the situation is. A nurse, an emergency room physician, a social worker, and sometimes a psychiatrist will examine you. They will take your vitals even though you are there for suicide thoughts. They will decide whether to admit you after speaking with the necessary assistance or look for another facility that can help you further.
  • If you go to a Psychiatric Hospital:

    The procedure resembles an ER in every way. It is likely that a social worker, intake worker, and psychiatrist will assess you. This process may take a few hours. The social worker at the hospital can assist in making referrals to community resources such as counseling, support groups, or your neighborhood community mental health center if the evaluation results show that you do not require inpatient treatment.

 

Communication Plans

Suicide Prevention Communication Plan

Montco’s Wellness Center working with Strategic Marketing & Communications will deploy suicide prevention communications twice per year: at the start of the Fall (September) and Spring (January) semesters. In addition, mental health and stress management resources will be shared at the start of finals weeks in December and May.

The communications will be sent to students and employees via email and through Montco Connect. These communications will highlight suicide awareness information and link to free crisis response and mental health resources in this Suicide Prevention Plan page. Additionally, Montco’s Wellness Center will run an awareness campaign to encourage suicide prevention and mental health awareness to the surrounding community. The campaign will be deployed in September, as part of National Suicide Prevention Awareness month, and in May, as part of Mental Health Awareness Month through a variety of channels, including Montco Connect, social media, digital signage, etc.

Postvention and Communication Plan

In the event of a confirmed death of a student or employee, the College will make support services readily available and will communicate directly with affected students, faculty, and staff. The Office of the President, Wellness Center, Human Resources, and/or Student Affairs will work in conjunction with Strategic Marketing & Communications to share information to the appropriate parties.

Email: [email protected]

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