Imminent Risk: Death risk is high, a plan is in place, lethal means are accessible, and the individual is planning to or is currently in the process of an attempt.
Expression of current suicidal thoughts: Presents as thoughts of ending one’s life without having the intention to act on the thoughts.
To identify if the individual is at imminent risk or expressing thoughts of suicide, ask specific questions & ask directly about suicide:
- Are you thinking about killing yourself? Or, are you thinking about suicide?
- Have you thought about how you would kill yourself? Have you decided when you would do it? Have you acquired the materials you need to kill yourself?
- When you think about this plan do you see yourself acting on it? Or - Have you thought about acting on these thoughts/plans?
Imminent Risk
All Campuses
- Call 911 (while you are with the student).
- Contact the student’s emergency contact (the CARE team or Campus Police can assist with this communication).
- After contacting 911 and the emergency contact, complete a CARE Referral for follow up.
Online Learners
- Call 911 (ideally while you are on the phone or engaged with the student).
- Call 988 (24/7 Suicide Crises Lifeline) to access support for a student.
- Direct student to the nearest hospital emergency department.
Study Abroad
- Contact ISOS at 1-215-942-8478 or use the free assistance app from app.internationalsos.com.
- If the student seems to be in imminent danger of hurting themselves or others, take immediate action by contacting local authorities and ISOS.
- Talk to the individual reporting the behavior/incident (if not the student themselves) and determine the location of the student.
Faculty/Staff
- Call 911.
- Contact Employee Relations Cell at 210-867-0260.
- Contact Faculty Staff Assistance Program at 304-293-5590.
Expression of Current Suicidal Thoughts
Morgantown
- Call Carruth Center Urgent/Crisis Clinic at 304-293-4431 — After 5 p.m. or on holidays and weekends press 1 to speak to an after-hours counselor.
Potomac State
- During operational hours, call the PSC Counselor at 304-788-6976. If unavailable, call the Dean of Student Experience at 304-788-6995 or the Care Team Case Manager at 304-788-6910 for assistance. After 5 p.m. or on holidays and weekends, contact 304-788-6977.
Tech
- During operational hours, call the WVU Tech Student Health & Wellness Center at 304-929-1237. If the counselor is not available call: CARE Team/Dean of Students: 304-929-1232 or Campus Police 304-929-2677. After 5 p.m. or on holidays and weekends, please call 304-929-1237.
*Depending on the severity/nature of the student’s concerns any of the above resources may contact a student’s emergency contact or request that you do so.
Complete a CARE Referral once all contacts have been made:
- Morgantown: careteam.wvu.edu
- Potomac State: go.wvu.edu/psc-care-report
- Tech: go.wvu.edu/tech-care-report