SUBJECT:

UC San Diego cares about you and your well-being

Dear UC San Diego Students,

Someone in our community recently posted a message on a social media site that they were thinking of suicide. I want to communicate an important message -You aren't alone. No matter who you are or what problems you are struggling with, hurting yourself isn't the answer. We want to help you find hope. UC San Diego cares about you and your well- being.

If you are struggling, Counseling and Psychological Services offers free and confidential treatment for registered students. Same-day services are available to students who need urgent assistance. For appointments, call (858) 534-3755. For help after business hours, a counselor can be reached by calling (858) 534-3755 and selecting "option 2." If you are worried about a friend, speak up and reach out. Encourage them to get help.

How to Report Suicidal Users on Facebook: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) recently announced an innovative partnership with Facebook to offer crisis services via chat so that people in distress can more easily access the support that they need. There are two ways to report a suicidal user to Facebook. You may either report it when you are scrolling on the suicidal user's comment or from the Facebook Help Center. For more information see http://bit.ly/sssvZ7

What Are The Warning Signs For Suicide? The following signs may mean someone is at risk for suicide. The risk of suicide is greater if a behavior is new or has increased and if it seems related to a painful event, loss, or change. If you or someone you know exhibits any of these signs, seek help as soon as possible by calling the CAPS or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

- Talking about wanting to die or to kill oneself.
- Looking for a way to kill oneself, such as searching online or buying a gun.
- Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.
- Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.
- Talking about being a burden to others.
- Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs.
- Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly.
- Sleeping too little or too much.
- Withdrawing or feeling isolated.
- Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.
- Displaying extreme mood swings.

I also wanted to direct you to the CAPS website at http://caps.ucsd.edu or the campus well-being website http://students.ucsd.edu/well-being/ that contains resources to improve your well-being, most of which are free to students. I encourage you to consider taking advantage of them.

Penny Rue, Ph.D. Vice Chancellor-Student Affairs