LVC Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan

Lebanon Valley College Counseling Services (CS) offers various services for students experiencing mental health issues and/or crisis at no cost. CS is staffed with three counselors, at least one intern, and five 5050 Peer Helpers.

Services are provided during regular business hours from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call ext. 6232 or 717-867-6232. Additionally, a counselor is available for on-call emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Contact Campus Security at ext. 6111 or 717-867-6111.

CS provides Question Persuade Refer(QPR) training to Resident Assistants, First-Year Mentors, Mosaic Mentors, and 5050 Peer Helpers.

CS subscribes to Mindwise Mental Health Screening to empower students to complete a mental health self-assessment to determine if they or someone they know should contact a mental health professional.

CS offers various workshops and outreach information activities focusing on mental health for students.

Mental Health & Suicide Prevention

  • 12.6 million people between the ages of 18 and 25 experienced a mental, behavioral, or emotional health issue in the past year. This amounts to 1 in 3 (36.2%) young adults, a percentage higher than any other adult age range. This rate has increased significantly over the past several years (from 22.1% in 2016). (SAMHSA, 2023)
  • 19.5% of teens aged 12 to 17 had a major depressive episode in the past year.  (SAMHSA, 2023)
  • 42% of high school students reported feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year. This percentage is higher for females (57%), Hispanic students (46%), multiracial students (49%), and lesbian, gay, or bisexual students (69%) (CDC, 2023)
  • Among college students, 36% have been diagnosed with anxiety, and 30% have been diagnosed with depression (Healthy Minds Study, 2023)
  • Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for teens and young adults ages 10-34 (CDC, 2023).
  • 6% of adults 18-25 had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year (SAMHSA, 2023).
  • 22% of high school students reported having seriously considered suicide in the past year. This percentage is highest among females (30%), American Indians/Alaska Natives (27%), and lesbian, gay, or bisexual teens (45%) (CDC, 2023).
  • 10% of high school students attempted suicide in the past year. This percentage is highest among females (13%), American Indians/Alaska Natives (16%), black teens (14%), and lesbian, gay, or bisexual teens (22%) (CDC, 2023).
  • Talking about wanting to die or kill themselves.
  • Looking for a way to kill themselves, like searching online or buying a gun.
  • Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.
  • Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.
  • Talking about being a burden to others.
  • Increasing the use of drugs or alcohol.
  • Acting agitated or anxious; behaving recklessly.
  • Sleeping too much or too little.
  • Withdrawing or isolating themselves.
  • Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.
  • Extreme mood swings.
  • Talking about suicide on social media, in person, or texting
  • Expressing guilt.
  • Giving away personal possessions.
  • Change in eating.
  • Change in appearance.

Suicide Prevention Resources

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
https://988lifeline.org
988, TTY: dial 711 then 988, Spanish: 988 & press 2, online chat: free and confidential national crisis line is for anyone who needs emotional support, and is available by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Text 988, Spanish: text 988 “AYUDA”

 

Crisis Text Line
https://www.crisistextline.org/
Text “HOME” to 741-741
The text line provides free emotional support and information for teens in any type of crisis, including feeling suicidal. Trained specialists are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

 

Trevor Project
http://www.thetrevorproject.org/
Trevor Lifeline: 24-hour toll-free suicide hotline at 1-866-488-7386
TrevorChat: www.thetrevorproject.org/webchat
TrevorText: Text “START” to 678-678
The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth ages 13-24.

 

Trans Lifeline
http://translifeline.org/
1-877-565-8860, choose 2 for Spanish
Trans Lifeline is a hotline primarily for transgender people experiencing crisis. This includes people who may be struggling with their gender identity and are not sure they are transgender.

 

Veterans Crisis Line
https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/
988, press 1
Chat: https://www.verteranscrisisline.net/get-help-now/chat/
Text: 838255

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Pennsylvania
800-950-6264

 

Mental Health Association in Pennsylvania
717-346-0549

Lebanon County Mental Health Resources

Crisis Intervention Hotline
County Lifeline: 717-274-3363

 

County Suicide Prevention Task Force
http://communityhealthcouncil.com/suicide/

 

Suicide Loss Support Group
Meets 3rd Monday of the month, 6 to 7:30 p.m., at
Move Forward Counseling LLC
445 Mountville Drive, Lebanon,

 

Pennsylvania Counseling Services
717-274-2741
pacounseling.com
618 Cumberland Street, Lebanon

 

TW Ponessa and Associates
717-273-5992
ponessa.com
15 S 9th Street, Lebanon

 

WellSpan Philhaven
717-273-8871
Wellspanhealth.org
239 S. Butler Rd., Lebanon

 

Annville Psychological Services
717-966-1388
annvillepsych.com
44 E Main Street, Annville

 

WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital
Crisis Intervention: 717-851-5320
252 S. 4th Street, Lebanon

 

Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
1-800-243-1455 (Main Line)
500 University Drive Hershey, PA

 

Lancaster County Mental Health Resources

Crisis Intervention Hotline
County Lifeline: 717-394-2631

 

Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital
988
333 Harrisburg Avenue, Lancaster

 

Lancaster General Hospital
1-888-544-4636
555 N. Duke Street, Lancaster

 

Lancaster Regional Medical Center
717-291-8111 (Main Line)
250 College Avenue, Lancaster

 

WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital
717-733-0311 (Main Line)

  • “A Friend Asks” is a FREEsmartphone app that helps provide the information, tools, and resources to help a friend (or yourself) who may be struggling with thoughts of suicide.
  • ASK & Prevent Suicide: Helps recognize the risks and warning signs and practical ways to intervene if needed.
  • Stay Alive: helps people who may be contemplating suicide and/or friends and family.
  • What’s Up: What’s Up? is a fantastic free app utilizing some of the best CBT and ACT methods to help cope with Depression, Anxiety, Anger, Stress, and more!
  • Happify: uses positive psychology innovations through games and activities suggestions and other things to help with mood and positive thoughts.
  • Moodtools: designed to help combat depression and alleviate negative moods.