You are not alone.

If you’re worried about yourself, a friend, or family member here are a few key resources.

• Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org
• Rosecrance Crisis Line: 217-359-4141 (TTY: 217-352-4217)
• RACES Hotline (for sexual assault and stalking):  217-384-4444
• Domestic Violence Hotline: 877-384-4390
• Trevor Project (for LGBTQ+ individuals): 1-866-488-7386

Recognizing signs of distress:

What are warning signs of someone in distress?

Remember the acronym, "Is Path Warm?"

• Isolation, Substance Abuse
• Purposelessness, Anxiety, Trapped, Hopelessness
• Withdrawal, Anger, Recklessness, Mood Changes

How to talk to someone in distress:

It can be hard to know what to say to someone you’re concerned about. Some people have the misperception that talking about suicide will give the person in distress ideas about harming themselves. This is not true. When talking to a friend or loved one, here are some basic do’s and don’ts:

Do's:

• Listen without judgement
• Ask how you can help
• Let them know you care
• Validate their feelings
• Tell them they are not a burden
• Keep in touch even if you don't get a response

Dont's:

• Interrupt
• Tell them how they should feel
• Be critical of them
• Tell them what they need to do to "fix" it
• Be scared to speak about feelings.

Learn more from the Counseling Center about how to support or refer a friend.

Kognito At-Risk

If you’d like a little more practice with how to talk to someone you care about, Kognito At-Risk is available for faculty, staff, and students. It puts you in realistic situations to determine the best way to approach someone about mental health concerns. The Kognito At-Risk online training simulation will help you to:

• Identify students who are at risk for suicide.
• Motivate distressed students to seek help.
• Put students in touch with support services.

Each training takes about 30 minutes to complete and is structured as a virtual practice environment where users learn by engaging in interactive role-play conversations with emotionally responsive virtual students. Access the Kognito At-Risk training.
 

Campus referrals:

If you’re still concerned about an Illinois student after speaking with them, there are ways to notify people on campus.

Counseling Center: Suicide Prevention Team

If suicide is imminent, contact 911 immediately or Suicide Prevention Team at the Counseling Center at 217-333-3704 (TTY: 217-244-9146) during office hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). The suicide incident referral form can be completed here.

Emergency Dean hours
Monday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Friday at 5 p.m. through Monday at 8:30 a.m. and all university holidays

The emergency dean supports students who are experiencing health or safety emergency situations in which an immediate university response is needed and which cannot wait until the next business day. The emergency dean is not a substitute for trained emergency personnel such as 911, police, or fire professionals.

How to reach the Emergency Dean: Individuals wishing to contact the emergency dean should call the University of Illinois Police Department (UIPD) Dispatch at 217-333-1216. UIPD personnel will be able to reach the Emergency Dean as appropriate.