If you’re thinking about suicide, you deserve immediate help.
If you feel like you are in crisis, no matter how big or small, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or reach Crises Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. During an emergency, you may call Counseling and Psychological Services at (828) 262-3180 and select the option to speak to the counselor on call. During office hours, you can visit the Counseling and Psychological Services Center in the Miles Annas Building, tell them you are experiencing an emergency, and they will find a counselor to talk to you.
More resources for attempt survivors can be found here: http://lifelineforattemptsurvivors.org
The Trevor Project Crises Line, dedicated to providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25, is available by dialing 866-488-7386, via text by texting START to 678678 or by chat.
If you are thinking about coming out, you may want to read the Trevor Project's Coming Out as You guide.
Speaking to a therapist or attending a support group can help improve your overall mental health. Currently enrolled students are eligible to receive counseling for free from the Counseling and Psychological Services Center. Individual counseling and group counseling are available. In order to see a counselor or join a group, visit the Counseling and Psychological Services Center in the Miles Annas building during initial consultation hours.
During the Fall and Spring semesters, Initial Consultation hours are:
Monday - Friday: 8:30am-11:00am and 1pm - 4pm
Counseling and Psychological Services offers the following groups for LGBTQ students:
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- This group will present an opportunity for students with diverse sexual orientation identities to explore life challenges. It will provide a safe environment in which to address a variety of issues (e.g., coming out, spirituality, family relationships, depression, self-esteem, etc.). Goals include reducing isolation, finding support and making positive changes.
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- A variety of issues will be explored in a safe and supportive environment. Some of the issues will be unique to students who are transgender or gender-nonconforming. Goals of the group include: reducing isolation, finding support and making changes.
All of the groups offered by Counseling and Psychological Services are designed to provide meaningful experiences for students who want to resolve specific concerns, for those who want to learn how to better deal with interpersonal relationships, and for those who want to feel better about themselves. Groups generally meet weekly and are most often limited to 6-8 people.
For more information about therapy groups, contact the Counseling and Psychological Services at (828) 262-3180. For more detailed information, ask to speak to the Group Therapy Coordinator.
Having a plan in place that can help guide you through difficult moments can make a difference and keep you safe.
Appalachian State University LGBT Resource Center
The LGBT Center provides resources, support, information, and a welcoming atmosphere for LGBT individuals and their allies.
Location: International Hallway - Plemmons Student Union
Sexuality and Gender Alliance
The Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA) strives to create an inclusive and accepting environment for all gender identities, sexual orientations, and romantic identities at Appalachian State University.
TRANSAction
TransACTION is a safe space for transgender and non-binary people and their advocates.
A-SPEC
A-SPEC is a safe space for people who identify along the asexual or aromantic spectra or who are questioning to come together and address topics and issues the communities face, to advocate for the communities' increased visibility on Appalachian State University's campus, and to establish a peer social support network for members.
Gay and Progressive Pedagogy (GAPP)
The purpose of Gay And Progressive Pedagogy (GAPP) is to provide a space in which issues and differences relating to gender, sexuality, privilege, race, class, etc. can be discussed as to how they relate to educators and the space within the classroom. GAPP will facilitate open dialogue around such topics.
ASUnity
ASUnity is a dynamic residential learning community open to all levels of undergraduate students. ASUnity seeks to provide an inclusive and supportive environment where LGBTQ+ students, along with allies, can live and learn together.
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24.
Trevor Lifeline - A crisis intervention and suicide prevention phone service available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386
TrevorChat - A free, confidential secure instant messaging support service
TrevorText - A free, confidential text messaging service
TrevorSpace - An online community for LGBTQ young people and their friends
The It Gets Better Project's mission is to communicate to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth around the world that it gets better, and to create and inspire the changes needed to make it better for them.
Engage in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
DBT is a form of therapy designed specifically to treat individuals who are experiencing suicidal thoughts. Daymark Recovery Services offers DBT treatment. If interested, students should schedule an initial assessment by calling (828) 264 - 8759. Daymark accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield and Medicaid, and offers a sliding scale for individuals who do not have insurance.
Now Matters Now is a website that presents the stories of those who have been suicidal, and research-based ways for managing the most painful moments of life. Learn Mindfulness, Mindfulness of Current Emotion, Opposite Action and Paced-breathing. These skills are part of Dialectical Behavior Therapy or DBT, proven to be helpful for people considering suicide. These tools are not considered a replacement for one-to-one counseling. You do not have to have suicidal thoughts or mental health problems to use these tools – they are useful for most people and many problems.
Told through the voices of these individuals, their families, and the professionals in their support network, each inspiring story recounts one person's journey from a suicide attempt to the life of hope and recovery that they are leading today.
This blog was created by the American Association of Suicidology to share that suicidal thoughts can happen to anyone and that it’s possible to recover, or learn to manage, and move on.
Live Through This is a collection of portraits and stories of suicide attempt survivors, as told by those survivors. The intention of Live Through This is to show that everyone is susceptible to depression and suicidal thoughts by sharing portraits and stories of real attempt survivors - people who look just like you. These feelings can affect those closest to us, and the fear of talking about it can be a killer.
This brochure was created to help you as you begin to work through challenges that led you to attempt to take your life. It offers information about moving ahead after your treatment in the emergency department and provides resources for more information about suicide and mental illnesses.
Adapted from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline's Help for Attempt Survivors
