Post Classifieds
Counseling options curb suicides
By Lakisha Forde
On April 15, 2012
Alexis Robles will never forget the day her father died.
"My dad committed suicide when I was thirteen," Robles said.
Robles, a junior studying hospitality, said she did not feel her father's suicide should
have affected her as much as it did. They did not have a close relationship.
"My dad did not live with me, and he and I were never close," she said," so I did not
think his death would hit me as hard as it did."
But, in reality, she said, it led to her depression.
"They found him hanging from one of the rods in the shower," she said, "but they
lied to me and told me he died from another cause. When I found out the truth, I hid
behind anger. I said that I did not care less, but I realize I became depressed over his
death."
Students like Robles can benefit from resources provided on Buffalo State's campus
like the Criminal Justice Club's suicide prevention training, which can help students
understand suicide and its victims.
On Thursday, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in Campbell Student Union Room 415, the
training will be led by one of the club's members, Katheryne Shannon. She said she
will discuss with students how to possibly recognize suicidal thoughts, reasons why
people commit suicide and other factors.
"This event is for students of all majors to better understand suicide and the
warning signs," Shannon said.
Shannon, a criminal justice major, said she saw this presentation in another club
and wanted to expand it to her own. The club is working toward incorporating other
campus resources, and is still figuring out details, she said.
Although this training is a one-day event, there are other resources on campus like
the Counseling Center where students can go to find someone to talk to about issues
they may face such as domestic violence and bullying.
Suzanne Johnson, a senior counselor at the counseling center in Weigel, said
students are more than welcome to talk to someone within their office about any
problems or issues they are dealing with.
"You can make appointments, but we take walk-in appointments as well," she said.
The counseling center has been providing a suicide prevention training called
Question, Persuade and Refer, Johnson said. QPR teaches students to question if
they think someone is having suicidal thoughts, persuade them to seek help and
then refer to a place that can help. QPR training is usually done with groups of
students, such as resident assistants.
Robles said she has been through this specific training before. She said she feels
opportunities that are being given by the Criminal Justice Club and the counseling
center offer students help they need.
"I think it is a great help because sometimes once you're in a situation, you wish you
knew what to do, and with training, you can do something," she said.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students, according to
www.suicide.org.
Johnson also said there are various resources people can turn to in time of need,
in addition to the Counseling Center. Violence Intervention and Victim Advocacy,
which is also within Weigel Health Center, could serve as another outlet. The
counseling center also refers students to Crisis Services if needed, Johnson said.
"We can assess a situation and determine if a student can be helped in other ways in
addition to counseling," Johnson said.
Robles said she hopes the training will make a great impact, and that speaking about
this topic openly and educating others will make a difference.
"I think this is a great thing for us," Robles said. "Now people can learn what they
can do in those situations."
For comments on this story, contact bscrecord@gmail.com.
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