Suicide Prevention

Suicide Prevention Plan

Wilkes University is committed to providing timely, effective suicide prevention, assessment and intervention and ensures continuous, quality access to professional behavioral health and wellness services.

The Suicide Prevention plan is designed to address suicide prevention through the lens of primary and secondary prevention. The program targets gatekeepers, students, faculty and staff to reduce risk for suicide and promote protective factors.

The Bandana Project

Wilkes University is part of the Bandana Project, a mental health awareness and suicide prevention campaign that uses backpacks and bandanas to support peers in getting help.

More about the Bandana Project external website

What Can You Do If You Feel Someone Is At Risk?

Wilkes University has a 24/7 support system for individuals exhibiting suicidal tendencies or thoughts. Call the Wilkes University Support Line for any student crisis: 570-408-CHAT (2428)

Wilkes University Counseling Center is also open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and can be contacted at 570-408-4100.  Walk-in services are available for emergencies.

The Counseling Center offers a comprehensive suicide prevention training program for students, faculty, and staff to educate the campus community on how to prevent suicide and other mental health crises. This education is designed to enhance knowledge, skills and abilities to identify and refer high-risk students; identify and respond to early warning signs and risk behaviors; promote protective factors; increase students' awareness of personal risk and protective behaviors; increase the utilization of resources for counseling and wellness; reduce stigma of mental and behavioral health conditions; engage students, faculty, staff and other key individuals and constituencies in leadership roles to facilitate suicide prevention; and promote wellness on campus.

Participants learn

  • Information about the prevalence of suicide and other related facts
  • Risk and protective factors relevant to college students
  • Risk factors and warning signs for suicide
  • The link between mental health concerns and suicide
  • How to promote and increase Protective Factors
  • How to respond to students in distress
  • Resources for assistance
  • What to do in an emergency situation

Student/Staff or Faculty Groups can request to schedule a training session by contacting Wilkes University Counseling Center at 570-408-4100.

How can you tell if someone is at risk? The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention provides these risk factors and warning signs:

View Risk Factors and Warning Signs external website

There is around-the-clock help for individuals exhibiting suicidal tendencies or thoughts. Contact our 24/7 University Support Line at 570-408-CHAT (2428) to speak with a mental health clinician.

You may also contact the Wilkes University Counseling Center during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) at 570-408-4100.

Wilkes University Counseling Center

267 South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766
570-408-4100

Counseling Center

Wilkes University Public Safety

148 South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766
570-408-4999
2fix@wilkes.edu

Safety and Security


Wilkes-Barre Police Department

15 N. Washington Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
570-208-4207
cityhall@wilkes-barre.pa.us
Wilkes-Barre Police Department website external website

Helpline of Northeastern Pa.

31 West Market Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
570-829-1341
helpline@fsawv.org
Helpline Website external website

ULifeline

ULifeline provides anonymous screening and information about campus resources:
ULifeline Website external website

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.
1-800-273-8255
988 Lifeline Website external website

www.2-1-1.org

external website

Call 2-1-1 external website and speak live with a highly-trained service professional in your area. All calls are completely confidential, and the service is accessible 24/7 in multiple languages.

The Trevor Project

The Trevor Project is a national suicide hotline for LGBTQ students.
866-4U-Trevor

Organizations and Programs

  • Access to mental health care and support for help-seeking
  • Support through ongoing medical and mental health care relationships (A therapeutic alliance with a caregiver-collaborative connection)
  • Mental health services including health promotion and wellness, student health and counseling, crisis services, access to local mental health providers and mental health clinics.
  • Health and Wellness Services also offers adaptive coping skills/Training/Tools to Bolster Resilience Mechanisms:
    • Psychoeducation
    • Emotional Regulation
    • Communication
    • Goal Setting
    • Problem Solving
Wilkes University Counseling Center
267 South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766
570-408-4100

Wilkes University Counseling Center

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat at 988Lifeline.org external website

988 connects you with a trained crisis counselor who can help.