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Information For Faculty

Responding to Concerns about Students

Sadly, suicide is the second leading cause of death, after accidents, among college students.

We are fortunate here at Fordham to have a student body, staff, faculty, and administrators who are very aware of students who are struggling emotionally and highly effective at getting students the help they need.

This guide is intended to be used to review risk factors for suicide, how to approach students, as well as the resources that are available on campus. A guide can only identify a limited number of important items.  Please call Counseling and Psychological Services (see phone numbers below), if you want to talk directly with a counselor about this guide or about concerns for yourself or a friend. At Fordham, help is just a phone call away 24 hours every day. Between 9am and 5pm please call counseling and from 5pm to 9am please contact Security.  Information about Counseling is also available through our home page at http://www.fordham.edu/counseling where you will find free and anonymous screenings for depression, anxiety, alcohol use, eating disorders, etc, as well as other resources.


Contact Numbers for On-Campus Resources

Counseling Services
    Rose Hill    718-817-3725
    Lincoln Center    212-636-6225
   
Campus Security
    Rose Hill    718-817-2222
    Lincoln Center     212-636-6076
   
Dean of Students
     Rose Hill    718-817-4755
     Lincoln Center    212-636-6250
    

Risk Factors

The following can be associated with risk for suicide. In general, the more of these factors a student has experienced and the greater the severity, the higher the risk for suicide.
  • Has suicidal ideation, plan, and/or means
  • Has suffered a recent significant loss
  • Has exhibited dark, depressing, angry, or bizarre content in essays
  • Feels s/he has failed to live up to her/his own or others' expectations
  • Is exhibiting an increase in isolation or social withdrawal
  • Appears unable to laugh or have fun
  • Is exhibiting an increase in drug or alcohol use
  • Has poor class attendance or academic performance
  • Is struggling with concerns about her/his sexuality
  • Is giving away personal possessions
  • Has a history of prior suicide attempts
  • Is expressing feelings of hopelessness or despair
  • Is making comments about "not being around anymore" or death in general
  • Is being impulsive or violent
  • Appears to be in a fog much of the time
  • Has suffered a recent trauma

What To Do

If a student has communicated that he/she is at serious risk by expressing suicidal or homicidal thoughts or if a student appears to be seriously out of touch with reality, please contact the Dean of Students during business hours or the Security Supervisor 24 hours a day. You may also call the Dean of Students or Security if you believe that a student needs to be seen right away and he/she refuses. Personally walking a student over to one of these offices might help in the event that he/she is hesitant to ask for help. Regardless, please remain with any student you are seriously concerned about until he/she has been connected with the appropriate supports.

If a student is in emotional distress but the situation is not emergent, please contact Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS). You can ask to speak with a staff psychologist who, if not currently available, will get back to you in a timely fashion depending on the urgency of need. Our staff will help you think the situation through and come up with a plan of action that is tailored to the student's needs. In addition to seeking consultation about a student, you can also call CPS with general inquiries about mental health concerns that impact the student body.

If you would like more information about suicide risk factors among college-aged students, please click here: www.ulifeline.com/schools/fordham. This website, Ulifeilne, provides valuable information and anonymous screenings related to suicide and depression among college students.

Please click on the guide below for more detailed information on responding to mental health emergencies:
Mental Health Brochure

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