The Blues Project is a peer education volunteer program to promote awareness and education about depression and suicide prevention. Student peer educators receive extensive training in recognizing and articulating causes, symptoms, treatment and referral sources as they prepare to present this information to classes, clubs and organizations on the California State University, Northridge campus.
The Blues Project hosts campus-wide programming each fall as part of Beat the Blues Week and each spring as part of the Semi-Colon Project. The Semi-Colon Project is an international movement to support those living with suicidal thoughts and self-harm and spreads the message that their story is not over.
Consider this: Before you finish reading, someone in the United States will try to kill themselves. One person takes their own life every 11 minutes. More than 44,965 people in the United States killed themselves last year, and 29 times that number attempted suicide. Many of those who have attempted will try again. A large number will die on a subsequent attempt. Here's the irony—except for a very few, all of the people who die by suicide want desperately to live.
Suicidal thoughts occur when a feeling of hopelessness sets in, rendering notions that one is alone and that pressures and problems are more than one can bear and will never go away. It can be difficult for people who want to kill themselves to see that the pain does go away and the quality of one’s life can improve with time.
If you are interested in becoming a Blues Project peer educator, submit an interest form. If you have any questions about The Blues Project, call (818) 677-2610 or email blues.project@csun.edu.
The Suicidal Person
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students. Sometimes a suicidal individual may express the idea of being a burden, of being better off dead or of wanting to get away from it all. Suicidal persons usually want to communicate their feelings. Any opportunity to do so should be encouraged.
Suicidal persons are intensely ambivalent about killing themselves and typically respond to help. Suicidal thoughts and feelings are temporary and most who die by suicide are not "crazy." High-risk indicators include feelings of hopelessness and futility; a significant loss or threat of loss; a previous attempt; history of alcohol or drug abuse; and feelings of alienation and isolation.
Warning Signs for Depression or Suicidal Behavior
Have you noticed significant changes in the individual's behavior patterns? Examples of changes can be seen in sleeping, eating and studying patterns; new or excessive use of alcohol or drugs; amount of time spent with others; or quick weight gain or loss.
Have you noticed significant changes in the person's emotions? Are they hyperactive, excited, withdrawn, depressive or experiencing mood swings? Is the individual abusing drugs or alcohol?
What is the quality of social relationships for this person? Does he or she lack close, supportive friends, spend little time with others, have non-supportive family ties and rarely participate in group activities?
Have there been any recent traumatic or stressful events in this individual's life? Examples of a trauma can include the death of a loved one or a change in close relationships like the break-up of a romantic relationship or friendship.
Has the person hinted at suicide or the desire to die? Has the person talked about hopelessness? Eighty percent of suicide victims communicate their intent to someone else.
Has a close friend or family member of this individual died by suicide? Has the person attempted suicide before? Does this individual engage in physically dangerous activities? Does this person have a specific and detailed suicide plan and the means for implementation?
Be concerned if a person exhibits several of these warning signs.
What you can do to help
Do
- Remain calm.
- Take the person seriously.
- Encourage frank and open discussion.
- Listen without moralizing or judging.
- Listen actively and acknowledge feelings.
- Acknowledge that a suicide threat or attempt is a plea for help.
Don't
- Minimize the situation or depth of feeling. For example, don't say, "Oh, it will be much better tomorrow."
- Be afraid to ask the person if they are so depressed or sad that they want to kill themselves. For example, do say, "You seem so upset and discouraged that I'm wondering if you are considering suicide.”
- Overcommit yourself and, therefore, not able to deliver on what you promise.
- Ignore your limitations.
- Feel obliged to find simple solutions.
Refer the person to counseling if:
- The person has identifiable personal problems and is using one or more ineffective strategies.
- The person is exhibiting several of the distress warning signs.
- The person’s problem does not appear to be alleviated by your support.
- The problem has existed for an extended period of time, and the person's attempts to solve it have been unsuccessful.
When you refer the individual to therapy:
- Remind the person that therapy is confidential and that it can often help.
- Remind the person that recognizing a problem and reaching out for help is a strength, not a weakness.
- Offer to call the referral agency yourself alongside the person you are concerned about.
- Stay with the person to provide support when they make contact with the agency.
- Remember to take care of yourself. Helping someone who is suicidal is emotionally difficult. Seek support of friends or professional resources.
Resources
Campus resources
University Counseling Services - Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm
(818) 677-2366, Option 1
University Counseling Services - 24/7 Urgent Care/Crisis Services
During regular business hours: (818) 677-2366, Option 1
Outside business hours, including holidays: (818)677-2366, Option 3
Klotz Student Health Center
(818) 677-3666
Department of Public Safety (University Police)
(818) 677-2111
Off-campus resources
Dignity Health Northridge Hospital - Emergency Services
18300 Roscoe Blvd.
Northridge, CA 91325
Hospital Main Line: (818) 885-8500
Behavioral Health Services: (866) 515-3805
27/7 Crisis Line: (818) 885-5484
Olive View Emergency Services
14445 Olive View Drive
Sylmar, CA 91342
(818) 364-4340
Dignity Health Northridge Hospital - Emergency Services
18300 Roscoe Blvd.
Northridge, CA 91325
Hospital Main Line: (818) 787-2222
Behavioral Medicine Services: (800) 608-4624
Psychiatric Crisis Intervention & Assessment: (800) 608-4624
Crisis Hotlines
Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Center
24-Hour Crisis Hotline
(800) 784-2433
(877) 727-4747
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
National 24-Hour Hotline
(800) 273-TALK
LGBTQIA+ individuals - The Trevor Project
LGBTQ+ individuals
24-hour hotline: (866) 488-7389
24-hour text: Text "START" to 678678. Standard text messaging rates apply
24-hour online instant messaging: The Trevor Project - Get Help Now (wait can be up to half hour, text or call for more immediate support)
Veterans Help Line
(800) 838-2838
Deaf or Hard of Hearing Individuals
Chat with a Lifeline counselor by video relay service: (800) 273-8255
TTY: (800) 799-4889
Voice/Caption phone: (800) 273-8255
Crisis Text Line
You may send text messages for crisis support to 74141
Text "START" in your message to have a Crisis Counselor respond via text
