Suicide Prevention Training & Outreach

The Suicide Awareness Health Education and Training (SAHET) program is designed to inform and educate students about depression and to prevent suicide. Its purpose is to help students understand how to help friends who may be suffering; what to say to a suicidal friend; how to recognize signs of suicidality; and identify resources.

More than 1 in 10 college students consider suicide within a school  year, according to the 2000 National College Health Assessment. 61% of  college students reported feeling hopeless at least once during the  school year according to this survey. 44.4% of college students reported  feeling so depressed that it was difficult to function. Depressive  illnesses often interfere with normal functioning and cause students to  perform poorly even if they have the capacity to do well. Depression can  socially isolate a person so they feel lonely, hopeless and  disconnected. Students suffering this kind of pain may consider suicide.  Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students. In  2000, suicide was the 3rd leading cause of death among 15-24 year olds.   

A depressive illness is a whole-body illness. It affects the way you eat  and sleep, the way you feel about yourself, and the way you think about  things. A depressive illness is not a passing sad or irritable mood. It  is not a symptom of personal weakness or of a character flaw. People  with depressive illness cannot just suck it up or get over it or pull it  together. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months or  years. Appropriate treatment can help over 80 percent of those who  suffer from depression.