Running head: SUICIDE PREVENTION POLICY CREATION 1

Suicide Prevention Policy Creation

Asia Martin

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

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Suicide Prevention Policy Creation

Policy Summary

University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG) mission and vision is to provide an

“inclusive, collaborative, and responsive” environment which makes an impact on its diverse

population of students and community (UNC Greensboro, 2012, Vision and Mission Statement).

With this, policies are designed to enhance the university’s values and provide awareness of the

institution’s mandated criteria for faculty, staff, students and others who represent the university.

In relation to campus safety, UNCG’s policies include: drug and alcohol use and abuse, risk

management, sexual harassment, discrimination, threats, and weapons on campus. These campus

policies are important to have in place for university members, but these policies do not focus on

instances of an individual harming themselves. The UNCG policy that entails health and safety

concerns are crucial for the university to have as not having them can lead to suicide attempts.

By means of this, it is proposed that UNCG implements an institutional policy, the Suicide

Prevention Policy.

The Suicide Prevention Policy created involves specific procedures, plans, programs,

campus resources, and expectations to respond and prevent the increase of suicide attempts at

UNCG. The policy created for UNCG is based on Missouri State University (MSU)

Administrative Operating Policies that highlight the policy “Op.1.08 Suicide Prevention,

Available Suicide Programs and Related Procedures” (Missouri State Policy Library, 2017). This
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policy is required by Missouri state law and “is intended to advise students, faculty, and staff of

certain national, regional and local suicide prevention programs available to” those who reside

on and off campus (Missouri State Policy Library, 2017).

The proposed policy begins with an overview of the purpose of suicide prevention, how

to identify suicide signs and intervention procedures that guide students to resources who are

qualified to handle these situations. According to the UNC Greensboro Online Suicide

Prevention Training Program, the program is “designed to help faculty, staff, and students

prevent suicide by teaching [how] to: identify people at risk for suicide, recognize the risk

factors, protective factors, and warning signs of suicide, [and] respond to and get help for people

at risk”, which the policy highlights (n.d.). This training program is expected to be required

throughout all departments in Student Affairs on campus. All returning and incoming employees,

staff members, and students are required to take UNC Greensboro’s Suicide Prevention Training

Program.

Within this created policy there are aspects that include: campus safety, suicide risks, and

intervention models. The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all student affairs professionals

understand the significance of suicide prevention, know the risks, and learn the protocols and

resources to assist students undergoing suicide and how to respond once a suicide has taken

place. In addition, national, regional, and local Greensboro suicide prevention programs and

resources are provided for UNCG faculty, staff, and students. Semesterly surveys will be

generated to students, faculty, and staff members on campus to assess the mental health status of

each individual. The policy is expected to be reviewed yearly by the Chancellor, Board of
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Trustees, Dean of Students, University Police, and administrators in risk management based on

the survey data and campus suicide rates.

Implementing this policy is important because all student affairs professionals are

expected to have student interaction in higher education. The counseling center should not be the

only office that is expected to prevent suicide occurring on campus. Student affairs professionals

must also carry out “proper procedures for identifying and addressing the needs of students

exhibiting suicidal tendencies or behaviors” learned from the required “university training

regarding suicide prevention and response” of UNCG Online Suicide Prevention Training

Program (Missouri State Policy Library, 2017).

Analysis

“Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students” (Active Minds,

2019). Annually, a total of 1,100 pinwheels are placed in front of the UNCG Elliot University

Center (EUC) which represents the 1,100 college students in the United States taken by suicide

(Funk, 2017). The purpose of this action is to raise awareness of suicide that occurs nationally

and to reinforce suicide prevention on campus while also promoting mental health. Based on

disturbing research from activeminds.org, 80 to 90 percent of these students did not seek help

from their college’s counseling center (2019). “67% of college students first tell a friend they are

feeling suicidal before telling anyone else” (Active Minds, 2019). It is perceived that students

feel more comfortable expressing themselves to those they already know, rather than going to the

counseling center to receive help from someone they do not. This is where the UNCG Suicide

Prevention Policy becomes effective.

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According to the UNCG Dean of Students Office, UNCG addresses the importance of

devoting a culture of care through its UNCG Cares program, which is established to recognize

and assist those students who are undergoing distress (n.d.). The UNCG Student Health Services

and UNCG Recreation & Wellness Center attempt to express its concern with suicide on

campus. Both departments provide workshops, events, and programs, such as “Mental Health

Matters” and “Spartan Recovery”, to support students with mental health concerns and promote

suicide prevention. However, this is not necessarily effective to all students, faculty, and staff on

campus because one would have to choose to specifically go to these resources to gather

information, rather than to be required to learn this information.

While the university requirements for first-year students and incoming students is to take

the AlcoholEdu and Sexual Assault Prevention online courses, there should also be a

requirement to take the UNCG Online Suicide Prevention Training Program (UNCG Department

of Recreation & Wellness, 2019). Many college students also use higher levels of alcohol and

drugs, which increase the risk of suicidal ideation (Anderson, n.d.). The UNCG Online Suicide

Prevention Training Program correlates to this policy because it explains how to respond when

suicidal issues arise. Once the campus community completes this training program they will have

a better understanding of the Suicide Prevention Policy, as the training program is expected to

emphasize the policy throughout the year. This will allow all members of the campus community

to better prepare and react when encountering suicidal circumstances at the university. Because

“very few people with suicidal ideation actually seek treatment” the institution, as a whole,

should make its best efforts to prevent suicidal behaviors and outcomes (Anderson, n.d.).
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There are many positive aspects of the Suicide Prevention Policy being implemented at

UNCG. A positive is that there is a definitive plan in place to handle any issue that arise in

regards to preventing suicide on campus. The policy will allow all students, staff, and faculty to

be trained in identifying individuals who appear at-risk for suicide, and lead these students to the

appropriate resources in order to prevent suicide from occurring. With this policy implemented,

the number of suicidal thoughts, attempts, and acts could vastly decrease in percent. This policy

will be reviewed every year in order to expand or maintain suicide preventions for the campus.

The reviews will be based on the UNCG campus suicide rates; therefore, if any issues arise or if

changes become necessary, the policy is able to be revised. UNCG will survey students, faculty,

and staff semesterly to identify the mental health status and make adjustments to the policy based

on this data. This decision drives the policy to become even more affirming as it will be updated

yearly, if necessary.

It is inherent that all professionals in higher education and student affairs administrators

are educated, trained, and updated on best practices surrounding suicide so that the student body

along with faculty and staff prevent these occurrences. Having this knowledge of resources and

protocols for susceptible suicidal students would prepare trained individuals to react before

students reach the point of committing suicide. In the case that a suicide does occur, the policy

outlines the aftermath plans, which “focus on outreach to survivors and on preventing suicide

contagion by managing the information that is presented to the press and public” (Anderson,

n.d.). The policy expresses how connections must be maintained with those on campus who have

suicidal thoughts, visit the counseling center with mental health concerns, and even those who

are friends of the person who passed, which is another positive aspect of this policy.
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While the positives include that above, there are a few negative elements to consider.

These would include that, although the UNCG Suicide Prevention Program is a required part of

the policy, individuals who take the training program may not take the training serious enough.

Also, individuals may still feel unsure of how to act in the moment of encountering an at-risk

suicidal student, which would likely result in the expectations of others becoming responsible for

this student without carrying out any of the protocols. Although, everyone is expected to review

the policy, the policy may not be essentially reinforced by the institution or its departments

throughout campus. This would limit the expectations of departments preventing suicide on

campus. Opposingly, if a suicide were to take place and trained professionals (students, faculty,

or staff) were in charge of the situation there could be unforeseen consequences and lawful

disputes. To prevent any unwanted claims, the policy will be clear in stating that UNCG is not to

be held liable for completely ending suicides on campus.

With this said, the proposed UNCG Suicide Prevention Policy appears effective in

decreasing the number of suicides and suicidal thoughts of individuals on campus. As stated

previously, the policy is expected to be reviewed annually to ensure that all conditions are active

and purposeful in creating a true culture of care by improving mental health and preventing

suicides. Currently, the university does notify the campus of any unfortunate losses that occur

within the student body. It would be valuable for the University Messages to reinstate the

importance of suicide preventions, whether or not the loss was related to suicide, because this

sad news can lead individuals to depression and distress, which could result in suicide.
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Implications

The Suicide Prevention Policy is important to have in place because the policy is created

to decrease and eventually put an end to the institution’s suicidal encounter within the campus

community. A drawback of implementing this policy could be that the university is sued based

on its responsibility to prevent all possible suicides on campus. Legal implications are possible

based on how the policy is written and understood by students, staff, and faculty. In past suicide

occurrences and court cases with institutions, for example, the Massachusetts Institute of

Technology court case, universities have been blamed for student suicides. But, as stated by the

Massachusetts court, “universities ‘are not responsible for monitoring and controlling all aspects

of their students’ lives” (Seelye, 2018). The UNCG Suicide Prevention Policy must always

reflect this.

The policy expectations will need to be appropriately and clearly defined that the

institution is not responsible for the losses that occur on campus. It is often assumed that the

counseling center is responsible for student’s mental health, but based on research those who

have mental health concerns are likely to resist seeking help. Professionals in higher education

and student affairs trained in suicide prevention could be a valuable asset to the campus

community, as they are the ones who first build rapport with students. Although this policy is

institutionally based, departments in Student Affairs, such as Academic Advising, Career

Services Center, Housing & Residence Life and more, are expected to stress this approach as

professionals encounter students on a daily basis through student engagement.

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For the policy to continue to be effective and beneficial to the college campus the policy

will need to be reviewed and revised annually based on semesterly-administered Mental Health

Status surveys and college suicide statistics. If UNCG revises the policy, this may have a major

impact on the institution. This means that faculty, staff, and students will need to be updated

promptly for the university to smoothly transition. This may cause complications as the

institution may receive drawbacks from the campus community based on the yearly changes of

training programs, procedures, risks, and other aspects of the updated policy. It is expected that

the revisions will be approved by the Chancellor, Board of Trustees, the Dean of Students, the

University Police, and administrators in risk management. These administrators play a

significant role in the decisions and revisions made to the policy.

Much like UNCG Student Affairs goals, the policy will affect the campus community as

its mission is to “prevent distress and respond to crisis” and ensure the safety of the campus

(UNCG Dean of Students Office, n.d.). Those in charge of the policy are expected to update the

students, faculty, and staff on campus about the best practices and applications for future

revisions to ensure that all divisions on campus grasp each aspect of the policy to enhance

campus safety. While gathering statistical data nationally regarding suicide rates is important,

collecting institutional data and reports from the counseling center is more beneficial. These

should be accessible to the campus community to better establish student and campus safety.

Conclusion

Overall, the creation of the University North Carolina Greensboro Suicide Prevention

Policy is intended to decrease the number of suicidal tendencies and occurrences on campus by
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requiring students, faculty, and staff to become trained in identifying signs and implementing

intervention procedures that lead students to the appropriate, qualified, resources on campus. The

policy would be a valuable asset for the institution, as a whole, as it relates to suicide prevention

among students, faculty, and staff. To demonstrate the universities mission and values of

inclusiveness, this policy validates inclusion among all populations of the campus community.

Those in charge of the policy updates will need to work closely with the UNCG Counseling

Center to gather information and data from those in distress with mental disadvantages, or in

self-harming situations. This will allow divisions in student affairs and other departments in

higher education to become aware of the students they could possibly encounter and, as a result,

prevent suicide. This created policy is intended to extend its objective to other institutions,

serving as a model for universities across the board and hoping they, too, will implement a

Suicide Prevention Policy.

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References

Active Minds. (2019). Statistics. Retrieved from

https://www.activeminds.org/about-mental-health/statistics/

Anderson, E. J. (n.d.). ​College students and suicide prevention - Administrators and staff

[PowerPoint slides].​ ​Retrieved from

https://www.ohiospf.org/files/College-Students-and-Suicide-Prevention-Admin.ppt

Columbia Campus. (2016). Student Suicide Attempts, Threats, or Gesture [PDF file]. ​University

of South Carolina.​ Retrieved from ​http://www.sc.edu/policies/ppm/staf107.pdf

​ etrieved from
Funk, R. (2017). Pinwheels for prevention. ​The Carolinian. R

https://carolinianuncg.com/2017/09/27/pinwheels-for-prevention/

Missouri State Policy Library. (2017). Suicide prevention, available suicide programs and related

procedures. ​Board of Governors, Missouri State University.​ Retrieved from

https://www.missouristate.edu/policy/Op1_08-suicide-prevention-available-suicide-progr

ams-and-related-procedures.htm

Seelye, K. Q. (2018). MIT is not responsible for student’s suicide, court rules. ​The New York

​ etrieved from
Times. R
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https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/07/us/mit-student-suicide-lawsuit.html

UNCG Dean of Student Office. (n.d.). About us. Retrieved from

https://sa.uncg.edu/dean/about/staff/

UNC Greensboro. (2012). The UNCG vision and mission statement. Retrieved from

https://www.uncg.edu/inside-uncg/mission/

UNC Greensboro Online Suicide Prevention Training Program. (n.d.). ​Ask. Listen. Refer.
http://www.asklistenrefer.org/uncg
UNCG Department of Recreation & Wellness. (2019). AlcoholEDU and sexual assault

prevention online courses. Retrieved from

https://recwell.uncg.edu/wellness/substance-abuse-prevention/alcoholedu-first-year-stude

nts/
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Appendix A: Policy

Suicide Prevention Policy

University North Carolina Greensboro
(Approved by Asia Martin, April 3, 2019)
Created policy based on ​Missouri State University Op1.08 Suicide Prevention, Available Suicide
Programs and Related Procedures Policy​ and ​University of South Carolina Columbia Campus
STAF1.07 Student Suicide Attempts, Threats, or Gestures Policy

Purpose
“Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students” (Active Minds, 2019).
The UNCG Suicide Prevention Policy is intended to advise UNC Greensboro students, faculty
and staff of certain national, regional and local suicide prevention programs available to students,
faculty and staff on and off of UNCG’s campuses, the proper procedures for identifying and
addressing the needs of students exhibiting suicidal tendencies or behavior, and the available
university training regarding suicide prevention and response (Missouri State Policy Library,
2017).

The Suicide Prevention Policy serves as a statement of the overall health and safety of UNCG
students, faculty, and staff in preventing the increase of suicides and suicide attempts throughout
the university. Proper management of suicide prevention is a vital leadership function that is
necessary throughout the University.

Scope
This policy addresses Suicide Prevention and applies to the entire institution. Each individual of
the University community plays a role in preventing suicide and mental health. The policy
outlines procedures, plans, programs, resources, and expectations to prevent crisis and suicide
from occurring.

“For the purpose of this policy, suicide is the purposeful act of causing one's own death;” while
suicidal tendencies include that of “attempted suicide, which is any act, threat, or gesture in
which a person engages in life threatening behavior(s) with the intent of jeopardizing his/her
life” (Columbia Campus, 2016).

Procedures
Pre-intervention
It is the responsibility of all members of the campus community to support actions and
efforts to enhance the mental and emotional stability of students (Columbia Campus,
2016). While all departments across campus are expected to review this policy, it is
emphasized that the Division of Student Affairs take this policy into deep consideration
as student engagement with these offices are high.

“All members of the university should be aware of recognized suicide warning signs, and
feel comfortable reporting concerns regarding students, faculty or staff displaying these
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signs” (Missouri State Policy Library, 2017). These warning signs include that of, but
not all, negative emotions, behavior, verbal and nonverbal expression, such as:
● Depression
● Mood swings
● Unusual sleep
● Abnormal behavior or impulsivity
● Increased anger or rage
● Increased use of alcohol or drugs
● Feeling hopeless, isolated, withdrawn, or burdensome
● Talking about suicide, wanting to die or to kill oneself
● Making a suicide plan

Concerned individuals should report these concerns to any of the national, local or
campus resources indicated in this policy.

When a university official becomes aware of a situation suggesting that either a suicide
attempt may occur or that a suicide attempt, threat, or gesture by a student has occurred,
then the following crisis intervention procedures should be implemented:

1. Staff at UNCG Student Health Services will follow professional ethical

guidelines when dealing with suicidal or potentially suicidal students. The general
requirement that counselors keep information confidential may not apply when a
counselor believes that disclosure is required to prevent harm to the student or
others.

2. If concerned over either the mental or emotional well-being of a student or the

possibility of a suicide attempt, or if the student has made a suicide threat, the
university official should contact the UNCG Counseling Center (336) 334-5874
and request assistance, or contact the UNCG Police at their 24-hour number,
(336) 334-4444. If the situation occurs after normal operating hours and
immediate assistance is needed, contact the University Police or 911 (Columbia
Campus, 2016).

Post-intervention
If a suicide attempt or suicide has occurred, the university official should initiate an
appropriate medical response:
a. Render first aid or other immediate assistance to the student as possible and as
needed.
b. If a medical emergency exists, call 911 or the campus land-line at (336) 334-4444
from your mobile phone. You may also request through the system that UNCG
Student Health Services and UNCG Counseling Center be notified.
c. Transportation should be provided Guilford County ambulance (for medical
emergencies) or by University Police for non-medical emergencies. The
University Official should stay with the student until transport or other assistance
arrives.
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d. Notification of the student's parents/guardian, by University Official or attending

counselor may occur when deemed necessary. Both FERPA (34 CFR 99.36) and
HIPAA (Public Law 104-191) provides for the release of normally protected data
when it is believed that the individual's' health or safety to self or others is
jeopardized (Columbia Campus, 2016).

In the case that a suicide has been completed or a loss on campus occurs, the University
will focus on outreach to individuals on campus. University Messages will reinstate the
importance of suicide prevention and mental health status whether or not the loss was
related to suicide, as this sad news can lead individuals to depression and distress, which
could result in suicide.

In the case that the University encounters attacks or contagion from the press and public,
University Officials are expected to manage the information being given to outsiders and
correct any misleads.

Plans
In order to ensure student, faculty, and staff safety, semesterly-administered Mental Health
Status surveys are expected for members of the institution to complete. UNCG will survey
students, faculty, and staff semesterly to identify the mental health status and make adjustments
to the policy based on this data, along with college suicide statistics gathered nationally.

The university has adopted an active response plan based on the “Ask. Listen. Refer. UNC
Greensboro Online Suicide Prevention Training Program”. “The plan is for students, faculty and
staff regarding the proper procedures for identifying and addressing the needs of students
exhibiting suicidal tendencies or behavior. The university community is encouraged to actively
respond to students in distress, including those students exhibiting suicidal tendencies” (​Missouri
State Policy Library, 2017)​. Once taken the training program, one will better understand the
approaches of how to intervene with a suicide attempt.

Programs
“Educational programming will be offered by various units in the Division of Student Affairs
and Academic Support designed to promote the awareness and understanding of the complex
dynamics of suicide and to recognize behaviors that may signal suicidal intent” (Columbia
Campus, 2016). Periodic programming will address issues of depression, general principles of
mental health, stress, and other topics related to student concerns through programs and events
like “Mental Health Matters” and “Spartan Recovery”. These collaborative educational efforts
will involve staff from UNCG Department of Recreation & Wellness, UNCG Student Health
Services and UNCG Counseling Center.

Required Training Program

The UNC Greensboro Online Suicide Prevention Training Program is required by the
UNCG Suicide Prevention Policy. All departments on campus, returning and incoming
employees, staff members, and students are required to take this training program as its
purpose is “designed to help faculty, staff, and students prevent suicide by teaching [how]
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to: identify people at risk for suicide, recognize the risk factors, protective factors, and
warning signs of suicide, [and] respond to and get help for people at risk” (UNC
Greensboro Online Suicide Prevention Training Program, n.d.). The policy will allow all
students, staff, and faculty to be trained in identifying individuals who appear at-risk for
suicide, and lead these students to the appropriate resources in order to prevent suicide
from occurring.

Expectations
All staff will receive annual professional development trainings on risk factors, warning signs,
protective factors, response procedures, referrals, postvention, and resources regarding suicide
prevention.

The University will focus on outreach to individuals on campus regarding suicide prevention and
awareness. University Messages will reinstate the importance of suicide prevention and mental
health status.

University Officials are expected to manage the information being given to outsiders and correct
any misleads, if the University encounters attacks or contagion from the press and public.

It is inherent that all professionals in higher education and student affairs administrators are
educated, trained, and updated on best practices surrounding suicide so that the student body
along with faculty and staff prevent these occurrences.

The policy mission and expectation is to prevent distress, respond to crisis, and ensure the
campus safety as all of the above are provided to respond to and prevent an increase of suicide
attempts.

Campus Resources
UNCG Police
336-334-4444 (24/7)

The Counseling Center

336-334-5874 (24/7)

Student Health Services

336-334-5340

Local Greensboro Suicide Prevention Resources

The Trevor Project, LGBTQ Crisis Support
1.866.488.7386 or ​thetreveorproject.org

Therapeutic Alternatives Mobile Crisis Management

1.877.626.1772 (24/7)
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National Crisis Text Line

Text “START” to 741-741

Monarch Crisis
20​1 N. E​ugene Street, Greensboro, NC
336-676-6840 (24 hr)

Moses Cone Behavioral Health Center

700 Walter Reed Drive, Greensboro, NC
336-832-9700 (24 hr)

Moses Cone Emergency Room

1200 North Elm Street, Greensboro, NC
336-832-8040 (24 hr)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

1-800-273-TALK (8255) or 1-800-SUICIDE (24/7, free, confidential)

Crisis Text Line

Text “START” to 741-741

Wesley Long Hospital/ER

501 Elam Ave Greensboro, NC
336-832-0212

911​ (24 hr)

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: ​http://afsp.org

American Association of Suicidology:​ ​http://suicidology.org
National Suicide Prevention: ​https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

University Statement
UNCG is not to be held liable for the losses that occur on campus, but instead provide all
possible resources and attempts to prevent a suicide. UNCG is not responsible for monitoring
and controlling all aspects of students’ lives.

Enforcement
Division of Student Affairs, Dean of Students, UNCG Student Health Services, UNCG
Recreation & Wellness, Chancellor, and Office of Institutional Risk Management.

Review
This policy shall be reviewed every year by the Chancellor, Board of Trustees, Dean of Students,
University Police, and administrators in risk management.
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Contact
Asia Martin
Graduate Student
Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education (SAAHE)
admarti6@uncg.edu