Facts and resources for suicide prevention support your wellness journey.
Facts and resources for suicide prevention support your wellness journey.
University of Oregon

Wellness Connection: Suicide Prevention

Quick tips and resources to support your wellness journey

Fast Facts

  • A CDC study showed that a range of factors contribute to suicide among those with and without known mental health conditions. 
  • Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. It is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-34, the fourth leading cause among people ages 35-44, and the fifth leading cause among people ages 45-54.
  • Everyone has a role to play to save lives in an effort to prevent suicidie and create healthy and strong individuals, families, and communities. 
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month — a time to raise awareness on this stigmatized, and often taboo, topic. Suicidal thoughts, as with other mental health conditions, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or background. It is an issue of particular concern on college campuses since it is a leading cause of death for adolescents and young adults. Raising awareness about suicide prevention helps spread hope and helps ensure that individuals, friends, and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention and to seek help.

Informational Resources

Refer to the National Alliance for Mental Illness and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more information and resources. 
If you or someone you know is in an emergency due to suicidal thoughts, call 
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255), text "OREGON" to the crisis text line at 741-741, or call 911 immediately.

Resources to Wellness

In collaboration, Human Resources and the UO Ambassadors program highlight the following wellness resources.


Wellness Ambassadors Newsletter

The Wellness Ambassador program is an extension of the Duck Nest that brings health and wellness education to UO employees in the workplace.
Their September newsletter includes information to assist with and support suicide prevention:
  • #BeThe1To is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s message for National Suicide Prevention Month and beyond, which helps spread the word about actions we can all take to prevent suicide.
  • Learn about the five action steps for communicating with someone who may be suicidal, as supported by evidence in the field of suicide prevention - Ask, be there, keep them safe, help them connect, and follow up.
Each edition of the monthly newsletter includes insights and ideas on a variety of ways to help you enhance your emotional and physical wellbeing. 
You can subscribe to the UO wellness listserv to receive the newsletter by email each month. Learn more about the program by viewing the employee wellness resources available on the HR website.  

eLearning Resources

LinkedIn Learning provides a variety of learning opportunities on the topic of suicide prevention. Here are a few to get you started:

Get Involved at UO

The University of Oregon counseling services provides support and resources related to suicide prevention. UO employees can partner in university efforts to assist students in the following ways:
  • Finding help and outreach for a student.
    If you know of a student experiencing suicidal thoughts or intentions, you can fill out the Community Care and Support form and an advocate from the Care and Advocacy Program will reach out and check in with them.
    If you are concerned about a UO student and would like to consult with a therapist about the situation, you can call 541-346-3227 to make an appointment.
  • Join UO’s Suicide Prevention Team.
    The Suicide Prevention Team is an interdisciplinary group of faculty and staff that meets monthly to explore ways to enhance suicide prevention on campus. This group also provides suicide prevention trainings to UO faculty, staff, and graduate employees. 
  • Take a training with Kognito.
    University Health Services offers a 45-minute online interactive simulation, called Kognito, to learn how to have effective conversations to support mental health.
  • Request a Training for your department or class.
    The UO Suicide Prevention Team and the Student Suicide Prevention Team can present a Kognito debrief with UO customization or provide an overview of suicide prevention and UO resources to groups upon request
More ways to get involved:
  • Join a local chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
    The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is a voluntary health organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education and advocacy to take action to prevent suicide. Connect with a local chapter for more information. 
  • Join the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Lane County.
    Connect with health professionals, community leaders, and volunteer advocates to implement proactive strategies, raise awareness, and provide education about suicide prevention in Lane County.

Benefits Toolkit: 

Get the support you need

The following information is for benefits-eligible employees.

Mental Health Services

Your medical insurance provides access to mental health providers and services. Refer to your summary plan description for more information and contact your medical insurance provider for further assistance. Visit the the HR website for quick links to your health plan resources.

Confidential Counseling and Other Resources

The University of Oregon’s employee assistance program provider, Cascade Centers, Inc., can provide confidential one-on-one consultation to assist you with your unique needs, including issues related to suicide. Visit the Human Resources website for more information about the EAP and to access services.
Visit the Cascade Centers YouTube channel for a library of recorded presentations and more videos on suicide prevention and other related topics. 
The UO Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through Cascade Centers is a free service that can assist benefits-eligible employees with a wide variety of issues that may interfere with their day to day activities. This confidential service provides telephone contact and/or in–person sessions as needed to assist with completing an intake, assessment, and referral. 
Human Resources, 677 E 12th Ave., Suite 400, Eugene, OR 97403
P: 541-346-3159
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