STAR Suicide prevention awareness and training
TRIGGER WARNING STATEMENT: This site presents information about suicide and suicide prevention.
People can call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for themselves or if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
988 offers 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing mental health-related distress.
STAR was created in 2020 by the UCC team as a prevention and awareness program to support individuals at risk for suicide and mental health concerns. STAR addresses the role of the helper and helpee in navigating difficult conversations about mental health, specifically suicide.
WHAT IS STAR?
STAR is a suicide prevention and mental health awareness and training initiative. STAR itself is an acronym focused on both the helper and helpee (person in need of support). Faculty, staff, students, alumnae, and family members can all benefit from learning about STAR and how to help.
Helper
See the clues
Talk and actively listen
Ask about suicide
Refer and follow up
Helpee
See the clues
Talk and listen
Answer the question honestly
Receive the referral
How To Help
STAR
STAR is a UToledo Counseling Center prevention initiative that addresses empowering individuals to ask for help as well as how to support someone in need of help. Sign up
JED Seize The Awkward
Seize the Awkward focuses on the idea that while it may feel a little difficult or awkward to speak to your friend about your concerns about them, if you accept the feeling as natural, you can move past the awkwardness and start a helpful/meaningful conversation. Learn more
NAMI of Greater Toledo
NAMI offers resources for individuals and families struggling with mental health. They offer classes, resources, and support groups. Learn more
- Attend a STAR training
- Host a STAR training for your class, organization, group, office, or department (min 10 people required; contact melissa.harris2@utoledo.edu for inquiry)
- Volunteer on a mental health UCC/JED Committee - contact latasha.sullivan@utoledo.edu
- Donate financially to the Counseling Center Foundation (Account 2400922)
- 988 - National suicide prevention hotline
- UCC 419-530-2426, press 1 after hours for 24/7 support
- Visit our crisis resources webpage for more resource information
- Find a suicide survivor support group
Sign up for a star training
Join UCC for an interactive suicide prevention training. As a community member trained in STAR you will have self management tools and resources to better equip yourself when speaking
with someone who is in mental distress. This training will uniquely address both the
helper and the helpee regarding each role in suicide prevention intervention. This
is Rockets Caring for Rockets.
objectives of star
- Raise awareness of suicide and suicide risk amongst the college student population
- Train campus partners in skills to manage their own emotional needs when engaging in stressful moments
- Use correct language about suicide
- Provide on and off campus supportive resources for referral and utilization
- Reduce the risk for suicide within our own campus population
- Destigmatize help seeking
What to know
Suicide is preventable.
- Suicide is defined as death caused by self-directed injurious behavior with intent to die as a result of the behavior.
- A suicide attempt is a non-fatal, self-directed, potentially injurious behavior with intent to die as a result of the behavior. A suicide attempt might not result in injury.
- Suicidal ideation refers to thinking about, considering, or planning suicide.
Suicide impacts individuals of all socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, age range, ability, and geography. No one is immune to being impacted by suicide for themselves or those they know. This is a state of the human condition. Resources are available to support individuals struggling with their own mental health needs or contemplating suicide. Know what to do if you or someone you love needs help.
financial and creative Contributors
Ohio Program for Campus Safety and Mental health (OPCSMH) (2020-2022) $10,000
The Ohio Wellness Campus Collaborative (2022) $35,000
Toledo NAMI Chapter
UToledo Theatre Department Professor Matt Foss Creative director and visionary
STAR Founders: Dr. La Tasha Sullivan, Amanda Jones, Dr. Cassandra Haas, Alexandria Carlson, and Valerie David