Every election year, ALL IN to Vote hosts a Pledge to Vote leaderboard for university students across the country. UMBC placed #9 in the nation on the leaderboard in 2020. This year, let's reach #1!
Take the pledge, and spread the word. Faculty and staff members can pledge too (but don’t count on the national leaderboard).
And while you are here, if you are eligible and have not registered to vote, use UMBC’s ALL IN voter portal to register before the October 18 deadline. You also can use the portal to check your registration status once you have clicked the link to your state's voter registration website.Suicide is a significant public health concern. Deaths by suicide have been reduced over the years, yet still remain prevalent across the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control, suicide dropped off the list of 10 leading causes of death in 2020 but still remains among the top 15. By understanding how to get help and recognizing the warning signs, action can be taken to help prevent suicide. Keep reading to understand the warning signs, factors that contribute to suicide, factors that reduce the risk of suicide, and helpful resources.
What causes suicide or suicidal attempts?
Typically no one situation, experience, or individual is to blame for suicidal thoughts or suicidal actions. Instead, a range of challenges tends to increase the risk of suicide. Read more from the CDC about circumstances that can increase suicide risk.
Warning Signs and Protective Factors
Along with circumstances that can increase suicide risk, there are also warning signs that you can recognize within yourself and others.
We all experience different emotions, and they can vary in terms of where we fall on the mental health spectrum. Recognize your own feelings and be aware of the frequency, duration, and any changes in patterns of behavior too. Patterns of unusual behavior may be cause for concern.
We can all do our part to help prevent suicide. Communities, individuals, and society can contribute to reducing the risk of suicide by supporting each other.
Different types of factors can help protect against the risk of suicide.
If you or someone else is experiencing thoughts of suicide or suicidal behaviors, here are tips and tools to help you navigate:
In September 2022, Seymour Chambers, assistant director of residential student conduct and community well-being, was appointed as the co-chair for the Historically Underrepresented Institutions community of practice for the Association for Student Conduct Administration. In this capacity, Chambers will be working with Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and schools that have large underserved populations, to get them active in the Association and provide assistance to them in addressing student conduct on their campuses.
Chambers joined the UMBC community in August 2022 after serving as the chief judicial officer at Morgan State University for 19 years.
Office of Health Promotion Director, Samantha Smith, Ph.D., M.P.H., CHES, is the co-author of "In harm's way: Do college students' beliefs about cannabis put them at risk for use?" The article was published in the Journal of American College Health on September 9, 2022.
The study describes beliefs held by college students about cannabis use and examines the association between three specific cannabis beliefs and likelihood of use. The authors' findings suggest that beliefs unsupported by scientific evidence are widespread among college students. Dispelling misinformation about cannabis might hold promise for reducing use.
In August 2022, the Office of Health Promotion became its own department within the Division of Student Affairs and Smith was promoted to Director. The Office of Health Promotion was previously part of Retriever Integrated Health.