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:

• Maintain healthy stress management and practice healthy coping skills, including boundaries. 

• Practice healthy habits regularly to maintain your health and overall well-being.

• Seek out help and address how you're feeling. Help Guide provides this informative page that allows you to navigate suicidal feelings, what to expect when reaching out to a hotline and how to help someone that may be showing signs of suicide.

For more information, check out the tools listed below: 

• Stress management guide - https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/stress-management.htm 
• Facts about suicide - https://sprc.org/about-suicide 
• How to talk to someone about suicide - https://www.bethe1to.com/bethe1to-steps-evidence/ 
• Resources to get help for yourself, those at risk, or if you've lost a loved one to suicide - https://afsp.org/get-help
• Suicide prevention resources and tools for mental health conditions - https://afsp.org/suicide-prevention-resources
• UMBC Counseling Center - https://health.umbc.edu/ 
• How to be there for someone - https://sprc.org/news/how-be-there 
• Check out the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - https://www.nami.org
• Contact #988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline via text, phone call, or visit the website - https://988lifeline.org/ 

At the end of Spring 2022, DoIT announced an intention to pilot Poll Everywhere as an alternative to clickers. After much anticipation, DoIT is pleased to announce the launch of our Poll Everywhere pilot, which now includes the ability for students, faculty and staff to login with their UMBC userid and password.

Poll Everywhere is an audience response system that can be utilized in face-to-face and online courses instead of traditional, physical clickers. There is no cost to faculty or students to use Poll Everywhere during the pilot. 

Without the barrier of purchasing a clicker or a supplemental software license, DoIT hopes to grow and better support active learning strategies through the implementation of classroom response systems. Students participate in polls by using any device including smartphones, tablets, or laptops.

Faculty can utilize a number of question types including open-ended questions, clickable image questions, ranking, Q&A, surveys, and competitions in addition to standard multiple choice or true/false questions. Poll Everywhere questions can be launched from a browser or integrated in slide presentations such as Google Slides or Microsoft PowerPoint. Questions and results can be shared with other colleagues as well. Lastly, Poll Everywhere can be used during synchronous, online class meetings since no other hardware is needed. 

Poll Everywhere also offers a Blackboard integration. Instructors can assign participants points or grade questions for accuracy. Please note that instructors and students will need to access Poll Everywhere via UMBC Single Sign On (SSO). Instructors will need to submit an RT ticket to request UMBC presenter access.

Please join us for a 1-hour Poll Everywhere training and demonstration on Monday 10/3 from 12-1 for an introductory training session to learn how to:

• Navigate the presenter dashboard

• Create and present activities

• Collaborate with teams

• Generate reports 

• Integrate Poll Everywhere in slide presentations

DoIT has prepared a robust FAQ collection on Poll Everywhere including a getting started checklist for instructors. In addition, please follow our myUMBC group for upcoming training on Poll Everywhere. 

As always, if you have any questions about teaching, learning, and technology at UMBC, please consider the following options:

• PIVOT | Academic Continuity | Keep On Teaching | Student Technology Resources

• Check our extensive FAQ collection 

• What's new in Ultra? | Known Issues 

• Open a ticket via RT

• Follow the Instructional Technology & DoIT myUMBC groups

• Request a consult with instructional technology staff

Hello Retriever Entrepreneurs!

Our second event of the semester will be held next Wednesday afternoon, September 28th from 12-1pm in University Center 310. 

This event will feature Julie Lenzer who is the Chief Innovation Officer at the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute. In addition, Julie is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, former Obama appointee, and author.

During her presentation titled, The Winding Road of Entrepreneurial Leadership: Risks Taken, Lessons Learned, Julie will discuss how she has navigated challenges and share the wisdom she has gained throughout her entrepreneurial journey.

Students, faculty, alumni, and members of the business community are welcome to attend! We look forward to seeing you there!