Contact:
Elizabeth Blevins, Director, Office of Communications
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 464-4854
940 Second Street – Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
E-mail: eblevins@shawnee.edu 
Web site: www.shawnee.edu

            Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students. With a grant received earlier this year, the Scioto County Suicide Prevention Coalition in conjunction with the ADAMHS Board has formed to raise awareness and to educate the public regarding depression and suicide prevention.
           Several Shawnee State University staff members are working with the Coalition including Robert Pratt, chief of Security; Lisa Rhoden, Security captain; Marcie Simms, associate director, University Student Housing; and Linda Koenig-Brown, clinical counselor.
            Jamie Jenkins-Benedict, chairperson of the Coalition, is a retired therapist from the School of Nursing at the University of Washington in Seattle.
           “It’s important for people to know that help is out there,” Jenkins-Benedict said. “So many people are afraid and they don’t have good information. We want to provide them with that information.”
            The university is a particular focus because of the statistics on suicides among college students. The Coalition’s mission is to develop local, broad-based support for suicide prevention; increase awareness of policy makers; develop and implement a public awareness campaign; and encourage effective use of evidence-based prevention and awareness programs.
            The resident advisors at SSU are trained to look for suicide warning signs. This is the second year the training has been provided to the advisors.
            “They go through six hours of training,” Koenig-Brown said. “It’s very important that they know what to do if they see the signs. The program was very successful last year.”
           The Coalition provides several suicide warning signs:
            • Threatening or talking about wanting to hurt or kill oneself;
            • Seeking access to firearms, drugs or other means to kill oneself;
            • Talking or writing about death, dying or suicide;
            • Feeling hopeless, rage or uncontrolled anger or seeking revenge;
            • Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities;
            • Feeling trapped;
            • Dramatic mood changes;
            • Withdrawing from friends and family;
            • Seeing no reason for living or having no sense of purpose in life.
            The kick-off for the coalition will be held in conjunction with the Campus Safety event in the fall with depression screenings and information on suicide prevention.
            Several crisis hotlines and offices are available for anyone seeking help including the Portsmouth Crisis hotline at (740) 354-1010; Portsmouth Veterans Administration’s Outpatient Clinic at (740) 353-3236; the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-TALK; and for students at SSU, the Shawnee State University Counseling & Psychological Services at (740) 351-3213.