Suicide Intervention

Suicide intervention at Austin Peay State University involves a community working together to mitigate suicide when a student appears to be displaying warning signs. Along with Austin Peay State University’s suicide prevention and postvention plans, the Suicide Intervention Plan provides an overview of how our community is prepared to recognize the warning signs of suicide, how faculty, staff, and students respond when confronted with those signs, and a brief summary of relevant resources.

The Austin Peay State University Suicide Intervention Plan includes four main components described below:

1. Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) training,

2. Behavioral Intervention Team/Care Team coordination of students of concern,

3. Campus Police coordination of emergency responses, and

4. Student Counseling Services coordination of outpatient care.

1. Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR)

QPR is Austin Peay State University’s preferred model of gatekeeper training, by which faculty, students, and staff can learn to recognize suicide risk and respond appropriately. The QPR mission is to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training. The signs of crisis are all around us. We at Austin Peay State University believe that quality education empowers all people, regardless of their background, to make a positive difference in the life of someone they know. Accordingly, in recognition of this important initiative, this year we increased the number of certified QPR trainers serving our campus by 400%, going from one trainer to five.

Key components covered in QPR training include the following:

• How to Question, Persuade and Refer someone who may be suicidal

• How to get help for yourself or learn more about preventing suicide

• The common causes of suicidal behavior

• The warning signs of suicide

• How to get help for someone in crisis

Question:

• Are you having thoughts of suicide? (assessing for ideation)
• Is this something you think you might actually do? (assessing for intent)
• How do you plan to hurt yourself? (assessing for plan)
• Do you really want to die?

Persuade:

If the student of concern appears to have an active plan, means, or intent to fatally harm themselves, then the next step is to persuade them to get help. One listens carefully to their needs and makes the following suggestion, for example:

• “Let me help you,” 

• “Come with me and let’s get you some help”

In moments of more intense, life-threatening mental health crisis, immediately call 9-1-1 or campus police (x 7786).

Refer:

At this stage, if the student of concern is agreeable to receiving help, then one should immediately contact a professional counselor (preferably one the student has already been working with, either on- or off-campus), professor, clergy, resident director, police officer, or other resource they may indicate a preference for.

If faculty, staff, or students discover a student of concern displaying varying levels of distress (i.e., tearful or emotional disposition that is difficult to console or does not subside within the first few minutes of contact; using language consistent with suicidal ideation such as “kill”, “ending life”, “wanting to die”), then the first-responding person who discovered the student of concern should ensure that the area is safe (i.e., free of weapons) before proceeding with QPR. If a weapon is discovered, immediately call 9-1-1 and/or campus police.

2.BIT/Care Team

The mission of Austin Peay State University’s Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT)/Care Team is to encourage faculty, staff, and students to communicate and respond regarding students of concern. Whenever concerning students and their situations are brought to the attention of the intervention team, BIT members meet to gather data and plan for a coordinated response. The ultimate goal is to provide students of concern with assistance, to mitigate risk, or both. The team’s ultimate goal is to help keep the APSU community healthy and safe through early, appropriate intervention and to promote a safe environment focused on student learning and success. The campus community will be educated on an ongoing basis regarding the team and its operations and how to respond to students of concern.

Any faculty, staff, or student may notify the BIT/Care Team of their concern about a particular student. Hyperlinks to the (anonymous) BIT/Care Team Student of Concern form can be found on OneStop or on the Student Conduct and Case Management website.

BIT Form

3. Campus Police

The mission of Austin Peay State University’s Campus Police is to…

After-hours emergencies: when a student is in crisis after business hours, Campus Police (x 7786) is the first point of contact. Campus Police will notify the on-call counselor when they deem it necessary to assess a student’s risk for suicide. Once contacted, the on-call counselor will assess any situation over the phone, speak with both the initiating officer and the student, and determine whether or not it is necessary to come to campus to resolve the crisis. If the provider can handle the situation with the student over the phone, then he/she will attempt to do so and explain the resolution of the situation to the police officer on scene. A follow-up counseling session in the Health and Counseling Center is ordinarily scheduled for the following morning.

If the on-call counselor deems it necessary to come to campus to resolve the crisis, then the provider will check in with the officer on scene before interviewing the student. These interviews are not “after hours counseling” but are opportunities for a licensed mental health professional to evaluate the student’s safety and recommend appropriate follow-up. Once again, a follow-up counseling session in the Health and Counseling Center is ordinarily scheduled for the following morning unless other, more intensive and immediate, treatments are indicated.

If further evaluation, including referral to an inpatient facility, is deemed necessary, then the on-call counselor will initiate immediately. Counselors will typically send students to the nearest medical facility, which is Tennova Hospital in Clarksville, TN. By previous arrangement, Campus Police will provide transport unless other, more appropriate, options are readily available. In the case of involuntary hospitalization, Campus Police are still the preferred means of transportation but are required by state law to be furnished a Form 6401, signed by either a psychologist, a physician, or a mandatory pre-screening agent (MPA) affiliated with Mobile Crisis.

If referring an uninsured student to an inpatient facility, then Tennessee state law requires Mobile Crisis involvement 100% of the time. APSU has the option of contacting Mobile Crisis directly (800-681-7444) or transporting the student to Tennova Hospital, who will then notify Mobile Crisis in accordance with Tennessee state law. If the student is a minor, then Youth Villages (866-791-9221) is the appropriate point of contact. If Mobile Crisis (or Youth Villages) finds that the student is in need of a greater level of care, including inpatient evaluation and/or treatment, then the mobile crisis worker will assume responsibility for arranging transportation of the uninsured student to a Crisis Stabilization Unit, state hospital, or other available, appropriate facility.

4. Student Counseling Services

The mission of Austin Peay State University’s Student Counseling Services is to help students realize their fullest potential and achieve academic success by expertly addressing their acute mental health needs. Outpatient counseling services are provided by licensed counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, social workers, and/or counseling interns working under the direct supervision of a licensed provider. A current listing of providers is on display in the patient waiting area of the Health and Counseling Center (in the Ard Building) and on the Student Counseling Services website.

Suicide intervention is a key component of Student Counseling Services operations. During normal business hours, staff are available to consult with faculty, staff, and students on a variety of topics, including how to intervene with students in crisis situations. Under optimal conditions, individuals (i.e., faculty, staff, or students) with a good working relationship with a student of concern will directly discuss their concerns with the student themselves and seek professional help when needed. Similarly, anyone may contact Student Counseling Services to speak with a licensed mental health professional regarding concerns about a student. Generally speaking, concerns are sorted (triaged) according to the steps outlined below.

If a student at any time is suspected of having serious suicidal and/or homicidal ideation, then counseling staff conduct an emergency mental health assessment. The counselor will attempt to obtain relevant data from those involved in the case and will consider this information along with data obtained directly from the student. The overarching goal is for the on-call counselor to rapidly form a diagnostic impression, assess the student’s risk for suicidal and/or homicidal behavior, and recommend immediate next steps for the student’s care and safety using the least restrictive means possible.