Ja鈥橯uila Redfield-Newsome, the director of Suicide Prevention for the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, conducted an interactive chat focused on suicide prevention via Zoom. Newsome presented ways to intervene in situations where someone is grappling with depression. The talk was hosted by the Counseling Services department of the Division of Student Engagement.

鈥淪uicide is almost always preventable,鈥� Newsome said to begin the lecture. 鈥淜eep in mind if someone discloses to you that they鈥檙e thinking about suicide, don鈥檛 make them feel bad about it.鈥�

鈥淎lways remember to carve out some time to take care of yourself,鈥� she advised. 鈥淕ood sleep, nutrition, and stress management can help you be your healthiest.鈥�  

Assistant Director of Student Engagement LaShasa Griffin cites the drop in face-to-face interaction due to the pandemic as a reason to encourage bystanders to take action. Griffin commented that staying connected with students, faculty, staff, and the community is a must for the Division of Student Engagement.

鈥淲e want individuals to know we are here for all situations, and we have resources available if needed,鈥� said Griffin. 鈥淥ur counseling center is available 24 hours, and all we need is someone to just say something, and we will provide as the need presents itself.鈥�

Newsome left attendees with enlightening facts and practical tips to help prevent a peer鈥檚 suicide attempt:

  • Starting a conversation about suicide will, for most, bring relief. A person may be feeling defeated but is too anxious to talk about it.
  • If a friend reaches out to you expressing feelings of despair, listen to them; take them seriously. You may be just what they need to recover.
  • If you are noticing behavior unusual for a friend or acquaintance, check on that person. Sometimes, simply being there for someone can help them through a tough phase of depression. Don鈥檛 allow that person to be left alone.
  • Recognize signs that someone is strongly contemplating suicide. This is the time to introduce a friend to professional help. A decrease in food consumption or isolation is definitely a cause for concern. That person may also be using extremely negative language.
  • Refrain from daring a friend to act on the idea of taking their own life.
  • Swap out the unsuitable wording 鈥榮uccessful suicide鈥� for the accurate description 鈥榮uicide death.鈥� Use the phrase 鈥榙ied by suicide鈥� rather than 鈥榗ommitted suicide,鈥� and 鈥榮uicide attempt鈥� in place of 鈥榰nsuccessful suicide.鈥� 鈥淲hen you talk about suicide, you always want to be respectful,鈥� Newsome said.

Providing students with additional support, Newsome concluded the presentation informing listeners of the 鈥楽hatter the Silence鈥� application available for download on the Apple and Google Play stores.

Call the Mississippi Department of Health's 24-hour chatline at 1-877-210-8513 to receive expert assistance for yourself or a loved one.      

In the case that services are limited, you can call for a mobile crisis response team at the corresponding telephone number found on the home page of www.dmh.ms.gov.

Contact Coordinator of Counseling Services Renee' Hall at extension 4858, or stop by the Student Affairs Multi-Complex Center for help.