If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please seek help immediately by calling Campus Safety (717-337-6911), dialing 911 or going to the nearest emergency room.
Suicide is a serious public health crisis and the second leading cause of death among college-aged individuals (ages 18-25) who face particularly elevated risks due to academic pressures, social transitions, financial stress, and the developmental challenges of emerging adulthood. However, suicide is preventable with proper intervention and support.
College years often present unique mental health challenges as students navigate increased independence, academic demands, relationship changes, and uncertainty about their futures. The college environment can intensify existing mental health conditions or trigger new ones, making campus-based mental health resources and suicide prevention efforts critically important.
This page serves as a comprehensive resource for the Gettysburg College community, providing vital information and assistance for students who may be contemplating suicide, as well as support for their friends, family members, faculty, and staff who want to help. Whether you're struggling with suicidal thoughts yourself, concerned about a fellow student, or seeking to better understand suicide prevention, you'll find guidance and resources here to promote safety and wellbeing within our campus community.
Common Warning Signs that Someone May be Contemplating Suicide
(adapted from the Suicide Research Prevention Center)
- Expressions of hopelessness about the future, hopeless about ability to change or improve the situation
- Expressions of being a burden to friends, family, the college
- Ostracization or difficulty connecting with others
- Physical cuts or other signs of self-injury
- Giving away possessions
- Detaching from responsibilities and routine
Talking about:
- “If/when I’m gone….”
- Feeling unbearable pain
- Death or a recent fascination with death
- Feeling hopeless, worthless, or trapped
- Guilt, shame, or anger they can’t escape
- Being a burden to others
Changes in behavior or mood:
- Recent suicide attempt
- Increased alcohol or other drug use
- Losing interest in personal appearance or hygiene
- Withdrawing from family, friends, or community
- Saying goodbye to friends and family
- Giving away prized possessions
- A recent episode of major depression, emotional distress, and/or anxiety
- Changes in eating and/or sleeping patterns
- Becoming violent or being a victim of violence
- Expressing rage
- Recklessness
Events associated with increased risk for suicide:
- Death of a family member or close friend
- Sudden breakup in a relationship
- Problems with family members, friends, or roommates
- Experiencing or causing an accident
- Doing something about which one is deeply ashamed
- Diagnosis of a serious illness
- Academic setbacks
Any and all warning signs that someone might be considering suicide should be taken seriously.
Asking someone whether they are thinking about suicide can be scary and uncomfortable. There is no evidence that asking someone if they are considering suicide increases the chance they will take their own life. In fact, asking someone directly about suicidal intent actually lowers anxiety, opens up communication and lowers the risk of a suicide attempt. (QPR, 2025)
How to Ask Someone if They Are Thinking About Suicide:
(adapted from The JED Foundation)
- Pick a private time and place to speak
- Express your concern and desire to help
- Ask directly if they have thought about suicide
- Keep the door open if they don’t want to talk
- Stay calm if they say yes
- Listen and validate their struggle
- Tell them you want to connect them to help
- Don’t promise to keep what they tell you a secret
- Get immediate help if they are unsafe
- Take care of yourself
Campus Resources
These resources are all free of charge for currently enrolled Gettysburg College students
- Gettysburg College Counseling and Wellness Services: 717-337-6960
250 Broadway (behind Servo Dining Hall)
Drop Ins are available for crisis support: 9 am - 4 pm, Monday - Friday and scheduled appointments are available Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5 pm when classes are in session.
- Gettysburg College Campus Safety: 717-337-6911
Students who are in crisis and are currently at Gettysburg College (on or off campus) after hours can call and ask to be connected to the Counselor on Call 24/7 during the academic year.
Local Resources
- Gettysburg Hospital Emergency Room: 147 Gettys Street, 6 blocks south of campus
- Wellspan Mobile Crisis Services: 717-851-5320
National Resources
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call, Chat or Text: 9-8-8
- Crisis Text Line: Text, Chat or What’s App: HOME to 741741
Campus-wide Suicide Prevention
Beyond crisis intervention services, Gettysburg College implements comprehensive prevention and early intervention programs throughout our campus community. These initiatives are designed to create a culture of awareness and support by educating students, faculty, and staff about suicide risk factors, teaching community members to identify warning signs that indicate someone may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, and equipping individuals with practical skills and strategies for effective intervention.
Prevention Programs: Our proactive prevention efforts include a Fresh Check Day mental health fair, QPR (Question.Persuade.Refer.) training sessions that teach lifesaving conversation techniques to the campus community, targeted social media awareness campaigns, educational workshops on mental health topics, and community events that reduce stigma and promote help-seeking behaviors among college students.
Early Intervention Services: When concerns arise, our early intervention resources include the CARE Team for coordinated support responses, the Threat Assessment Team for comprehensive risk evaluation, and Drop-In Services that provide immediate, accessible support without the barrier of scheduling appointments—recognizing that college students often need flexible, low-threshold access to mental health resources.
These multi-layered approaches work together to create a supportive campus environment where students feel comfortable seeking help and community members are prepared to respond effectively when someone is in crisis.
Additional Information for Employees
If you are a full-time employee struggling with mental health concerns or thoughts of suicide, the Early Assistance Plan by Wellspan (EAP) is available to you. EAP provides regular full-time employees assistance with issues such as depression, marital and family issues, grief, drug and alcohol problems, job-related stress, financial difficulties, and other personal matters. Gettysburg College will pay up to three visits/evaluations and to provide a referral list of practitioners in specific fields of expertise. Services are confidential and will not affect employment.
To learn about WELLSPAN Employee Assistance Program, please visit www.wellspaneap.org
Interested in Learning More?
Contact the Counseling and Wellness Department at: counseling@gettysburg.edu for more information on services including trainings, workshops and suicide prevention programs available at Gettysburg College.