Suicide Prevention Plan

Chattanooga State Community College is committed to the health, safety, and well-being of all students, faculty, and staff. We recognize that mental health challenges, emotional distress, and crisis situations can impact academic success, job performance, and overall quality of life. As a caring campus community, we are dedicated to fostering an environment where individuals feel supported, valued, and empowered to seek help.

Below are a list of campus and community resources for support should you or a member of our campus community be experiencing suicidal ideation.

What is suicidal ideation?

Suicidal ideation is characterized by preoccupation with thoughts of self-harm or formulating plans for suicide. The intensity of ideation exists on a spectrum, beginning with a general desire to die without a concrete method, plan, or intent, and progressing to active suicidal ideation, which involves a detailed plan and determined intent to act (Rizvi, A. et al., 2024).

Campus Intervention

What should I do if I do if someone shares that they are experiencing suicidal ideation?

  • ASK the question, “Do you feel like going to sleep and never waking up?”, or find someone who can. Take the risk factors and signals seriously.
  • LISTEN to them without judgment. Show interest in the person and be supportive of him or
  • Offer hope that there are alternatives to
  • Take Remove methods the person might use to kill him or herself. Do not leave the person alone.
  • GET HELP from his or her family, friend, physician, clergy,
  • IMMEDIATELY contact a person or organization that specializes in crisis intervention or suicide prevention for help.

CAMPUS POINTS OF CONTACT for IMMINENT CONCERNS

During office hours, the following Chattanooga State staff and their teams are available to support you or others within our campus community:

Campus Contacts
Primary Secondary Emergency
Carisa Powell,

 

Counselor, LPC – MHSP

 

Main: 423-697-4483

 

Desk: 423-697-3228 		Michelle Kilgore,

 

Director, Student Support Services

 

Main: 423-697-4483

 

Desk: 423-697-5740

 

Cell: 423-593-1927 		Campus Police

 

Office: 423-697-4467

 

Cell: 423-595-3651

 
Madison Bramlett

 

Counselor

 

Main: 423-697-4483

 

Desk: 423-697-3229 		Amanda Bennett,

 

Vice-President, Student Affairs

 

Office: 423-697-4423

 

Cell: 423-413-2984 		988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

 

Call 988

 

Text 2417

After hours, Chattanooga State students, faculty, and staff should contact Campus Police or dial 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

NON-IMMINENT CONCERNS: Report to the Behavioral Intervention Team.

Virtual Resources – Available 24/7

  • Call 988, Text 988, or chat
  • Trevor Lifeline for LGBTQIA Youth Call 1-800-488-7386 or Text "START" to 678-678
  • Tennessee Statewide Crisis Line Call 1-800-273-8255 Text "TN" to 741-741
  • Veteran Crisis Line Dial 988 then Press 1 or Text 838255

Community Resources

  • McNabb Center, Location: 601 Cumberland Street, Chattanooga, TN, 37404, 877-456-4625
  • Volunteer Behavioral Health, 420 W. Bell Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37405, 423-634-8884
  • Chattanooga Vet Center, 1300 Perimeter Dr., Suite 180, Chattanooga, TN 37421, 423- 855-6570
  • Mobile Crisis Unit, 423 Spring Street, Chattanooga, TN 37405, 423-417-2585

The Facts

College students are in a state of life transition and can be overwhelmed with new opportunities and new responsibilities. Lifestyle changes, such as sleep deprivation and substance abuse, can contribute to suicidal behavior.

  • Suicide is the second leading cause of death for college students
  • Approximately 1,100 college students die by suicide every year
  • 6% of college students report they have seriously considered suicide over the past year; 90%of those students created a suicide plan, 14% actually attempted suicide, and 60% continued to have thoughts of suicide.

Signals

There are some behaviors that signal possible suicidal thoughts and attempts. Knowing these signals and acting may help you save someone’s life. A person might be suicidal if they:

  • Have sadness or depression that will not go away
  • Become withdrawn or isolate themselves from friends, family, and society
  • Have difficulty going to classes
  • Become highly anxious or agitated
  • Display rage or uncontrolled anger
  • Give away prized possessions
  • Increase their use of alcohol and drugs
  • Acquire a firearm
  • Lose weight or have a decrease in appetite
  • Change their sleeping patterns, cannot sleep, or sleep all the time
  • Engage in reckless and risk-taking behavior
  • State they have no reason to live
  • Talk about or threaten suicide. (If this happens, TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION).

Remember: Any one of these signals alone doesn’t necessarily indicate a person is suicidal. However, several signals may be cause for concern. Signals are especially important if the person has attempted suicide in the past. Listen. Be a friend. Get professional help. Your actions may save a life!

Risk Factors

A variety of factors contribute to suicidal thoughts and behaviors in college students.

  • DEPRESSION contributes to suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts. Over a third of college students reported being so depressed they found it difficult to function. **
  • HOPELESSNESS – 45% of college students had felt their situation was hopeless**
  • LONELINESS 55% of college students had felt very lonely. **
  • ACADEMIC STRESSORS can be a contributing factor to suicide. College students who have attempted suicide cite academic stress as one of the reasons for their suicide attempts. Almost half who consider suicide cite academic problems as a contributing factor.*
  • FINANCIAL CONCERNS are cited as a contributing factor by 78% of students who attempt suicide and in 31% of students who seriously consider suicide. *

Other factors such as relationship problems and issues with PARENTS can contribute to suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Certain populations of college students such as LGBTQI students, veterans, minority students, students who do not live on campus, and students who have known someone who died by suicide are at a higher risk for suicide and suicide attempts.

Prevention Programming and Resources

Chattanooga State maintains T.C.A. § 49-7-172 compliance by employing the following strategies:

  • Distributing the school Suicide Prevention Plan each semester
  • Offering suicide prevention programming, including workshop, engagement activities, campus announcements, and social media postings each academic year
  • Maintaining access to free mental health counseling for all students
  • Maintaining partnerships within the Chattanooga community for expanded mental health support
  • Maintaining protocol for post-vention, should a member of the campus community commit suicide
  • Including the following statement on all course syllabi:

“Chattanooga State Community College is committed to and cares about the well-being of all students and employees. Support services are available for any person in need of assistance who may feel overwhelmed, hopeless, depressed, and/or is thinking about self-harm or suicide. To access free mental health support, contact the Student Support Center at 423-697-4483. After hours, call campus police at 423-697-4467 or 423-595-3651. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.”

For further information regarding the Chattanooga State Suicide Prevention Plan should be directed to:

Dr. Amanda Bennett, Student Affairs Vice-President, 423-697-4423, [email protected]

Educational Resources

Citations