Presenter(s): Jazmin Cole
Faculty Mentor(s): Suzie Stadelman
Poster 92
Session: Social Sciences & Humanities
According to the Center for Disease Control (2016), suicide is the second leading cause of deaths in individuals between the ages 10 and 35 in the United States. In Oregon, the number of deaths by suicide has increased 19-30% since 1999 and surpassed the national age-adjusted rate (CDC Vital Signs, June 2018). As suicide rates continue to rise so does the demand from public health for increased resources and awareness of suicide prevention and mental health promotion. The purpose of my research is to increase awareness of the importance of mental health for our student population and show the effectiveness of peer-to-peer suicide prevention at the University of Oregon (UO). I will be sharing quantitative and qualitative data collected by the Student Suicide Prevention Team (SSPT) from students before and after receiving a peer led workshop on how to help a friend experiencing suicidal ideation. Initial findings from SSPT data show promising results that students report an increase in both their feeling of preparedness to discuss with a peer concerns of suicide and confidence in their ability to help a peer seek help.