Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Communication Plan
Delaware County Community College’s Career and Counseling Department is committed to facilitating growth and development in all students. We recognize that there are times when family, work, or other responsibilities can get in the way of a student’s academic progress and that can lead to stress, distress, difficulties, or mental health concerns. We care about students, their experiences, and are here to help! The Career and Counseling Department has trained counselors available to meet with students to help them work through many difficulties. We will also refer students to outside resources if they’re seeking long-term counseling or support; the Department maintains a list of community resources for this purpose. To ensure your success as a student, we encourage you to talk about your concerns with one of our counselors. Career and Counseling services are available remotely in Delaware and Chester Counties. Personal and crisis counseling is provided on a drop-in basis and no appointment is required for these services. These services are at no additional cost to our students! For more information, please visit our website at dccc.edu/counseling.
At times, our concerns, difficulties, or mental health can become increasingly hard to navigate and may lead to feelings of distress, thoughts of self-harm, suicidal thoughts, attempts to kill oneself, or death by suicide. These thoughts or actions are incredibly unfortunate; however, there are times at Delaware County Community College where students have reported these, or similar, experiences. We take these reports very seriously and want to ensure that all students, faculty, and staff are aware of the risk factors, warning signs, and resources available in the event that anyone is experiencing a mental health crisis.
As we are a community college with no residential settings, college staffing is not offered 24/7; however, we want to make sure that everyone has access to support during a crisis. As a result, we provide several 24/7 resources to connect with at any time (including hotlines, textlines, and tips on coping with distress). These resources can be found on the next few pages.
Finally, faculty and staff affected by mental health concerns can find information about benefits made available to you by the College through Carebridge Corporation by contacting Human Resources, or by logging on delaGATE and accessing information in the Human Resource channel under Employees.
Career & Counseling Services-Traditional Hours of Operation
Services available to current students
To view current view current business hours of operation visit our homepage!
Chester County Locations
| Location | Phone Number |
| Downingtown Center Check in at Welcome Desk |
484-237-6210 |
| Pennocks Bridge Center Check in at Welcome Desk |
484-237-6400 |
| Virtual-All Campuses | 610-359-5324 |
Delaware County Locations
| Location | Phone Number |
| Marple Campus Academic Building, Room 1325 |
610-359-5324 |
| Southeast Center Check in at Welcome Desk |
610-957-5748 |
| Upper Darby Center Check in at Welcome Desk |
610-723-1250 |
| Virtual-All Campuses | 610-359-5324 |
If a counselor is unavailable at designated times as listed above, a student will be connected to another counselor over the phone. If it is after hours, the student should utilize external (local or national) resources listed on this page.
Local External Resources
- Chester County Crisis Services (Valley Creek): 610-280-3270 (will dispatch anywhere)
- Chester County Warm Line – Peer Support (M-F 2-8p/Sa & Su 12-6pm): 1-866-846-2722
- Delaware County Crisis Connections Team (Mobile Crisis Unit): 1-855-889-7827 (will dispatch anywhere)
- Delaware County Warm Line – Peer Support (M-F 6p-10p/Sa & Su 1p-7p) 1-855-464-9342
- Montgomery County Emergency Services (MCES): 610-279-6100 (will dispatch to your home)
- Philadelphia County DBHIDS Delegate Line: 215-685-6440 (directs to appropriate service provider; will dispatch mobile emergency team if necessary)
- Veteran Crisis Line (24 hours): 1-800-273-8255, Press #1 or Text 838255
- To find a therapist in your area:
Local Hospitals with Behavioral Health Services
*Contact directly for hours of operation.
Chester County
• Chester County Hospital: 610-431-5000 701 East Marshall Street, West Chester PA 19380 (for medical emergencies. No Psychiatric Unit)
Delaware County
• The Crisis Center at Crozer-Chester Medical Center: 610-447-7600. One Medical Center Blvd., Chester PA 19013
• Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital: 610-237-4000. 1500 Lansdown Ave, Darby, PA 19023
Montgomery County
• Abington Hospital: 215-481-2525 1200. Old York Rd Abington, PA 19001 Bryn Mawr Hospital: 484-337-3000 130 S. Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Philadelphia County
• Einstein Hospital: 215-951-8300. Germantown Community Health Services: Crisis Response Center 1 Penn Blvd. Philadelphia, PA 19144
Local Support Group Information
Survivors of Suicide Support (SOS) Groups help loss survivors as they navigate their grief and work towards healing. Trained facilitators are also loss survivors and have firsthand experience and knowledge around the difficult journey loved ones face after losing someone to suicide. Groups are open to anyone 18 years or older, and are grieving a loss due to suicide. Groups are free and confidential! Pre-registration is not required. Meetings are run in-person or via Zoom. Use the below links to view specific schedules and modalities.
View the SOS Group schedule for Delaware, Chester, Montgomery, Central Bucks, PA and Camden, NJ counties
View the Healthy Minds Philly schedule for Philadelphia County (please note: these are only offered via Zoom at this time)
National Resources
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, dial 988 from any phone, available 24/7 (for Veterans Support, press 1 once connected or text: 838225)
- Crisis Text Line, text HOME to 741741 at any time, for any type of crisis. If you're a person of color who is experiencing a crisis, you can also text STEVE to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor of color.
- Trans Lifeline, 1-877-565-8860, available 24/7- Trans Lifeline’s Hotline is a peer support phone service run by trans people for our trans and questioning peers.
- Trevor Project, 1-866-488-7386, available 24/7; Textline: Text ‘START’ to 678-678, 24/7, instant messaging available through a computer. Leading national organization in crisis and suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ young people under 25.
- Befrienders: Global network of emotional support in 32 countries designed to be a space for those in distress to talk and be heard.
- JED Foundation
- American Foundation of Suicide Prevention
- NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
- Therapy for Black Girls: Online space dedicated to encouraging the mental wellness of Black women and girls. Offers listing of mental health professionals across the country who provide high quality, culturally competent services to Black women and girls, an informational podcast and an online support community.
- APISAA Therapist Directory: A directory of therapists located in most states + Washington, DC who specialize in serving Asian American, South Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities.
- Therapy for Latinx: Therapy for Latinx is a national mental health resource for the Latinx community that provides resources for Latinx Community to heal, thrive, and become advocates for their own mental health
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National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network: The program is designed to provide financial support for queer and trans people of color to work with psychotherapists to address the economic barriers inherent in healthcare and the mental health system..
Outreach to College Community
At the beginning of each fall and spring semester, all students, faculty, and staff will receive this communication plan from the Dean of Counseling and Completion Services (or designee). Current students can meet virtually with counselors for support and guidance, mental health resources, and referrals in the community for long-term support. In addition to providing brief individual counseling for students, Delaware County Community College’s Career & Counseling Center engages in outreach, training, and suicide prevention activities throughout the academic year. Programs include training faculty, staff, and students on suicide prevention skills, suicide awareness and mental health awareness through events offered remotely. The Career & Counseling Center staff continually engages in training to become more effective at recognizing and treating suicidal students. Students are encouraged to become more active in suicide prevention by connecting with their local Suicide Prevention Task Force chapter. You can learn more about these task forces here:
Chester County | Delaware County
Employee Resources
Employees of the College affected by mental health concerns have access to a comprehensive Employee Assistance Program and Work-Life benefits available through Carebridge Corporation. This partnership can assist you in the management of work, personal, or family issues. The help you receive from Carebridge is completely confidential and at no cost to you.
EAP Support
Martial Relationships
Stress Management
Substance Abuse
Parent/Child Relationships
Grief and Loss
Difficult Emotional Issues
EAP will provide your choice of up to 3 face-to-face or telephone counseling sessions. Some of the Work-Life Management services that are available through Carebridge include:
Work-Life Services
Child Care
Elder Care
Financial Concerns
Relocation
College Planning
Adoption Information
Time/Stress Management
Personal Convenience
Your professional Carebridge Work-Life Counselor will provide, via the telephone, unlimited consultation, referrals, and information assisting in the resolution of your needs.
Carebridge is available 24/7 by calling 800.437.0911. Carebridge also maintains a website at www.myliferesource.com. Please contact the College’s Human Resource Department for our access code. Online services include a wealth of additional information to support the counseling services, including child-care and elder-care locator databases, legal document center, Shoppers Discount Center and wellness tutorials.
We encourage you to take advantage of these exceptional Carebridge services and are confident they will provide immediate and significant value in successfully managing work, personal, or family issues.
Recognizing the Signs
Signs that a person is at risk of suicide may be a change of behaviors, especially if the behaviors are related to a recent painful event, loss or change. Most people who take their lives exhibit one or more warning signs, either through what they say or what they do. Below are signs, behaviors, and moods to pay attention to, as well as ways you can provide support. Additionally, you can participate in Take 5 to Save Lives which was created by the National Council for Suicide Prevention for World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10). This allows individuals to take 5 minutes out of their day to complete five action items: Learn the Warning Signs, Do Your Part, Practice Self-care, Reach Out, and Spread the Word. You can participate by going to www.take5tosavelives.org/take-5-steps.
Warning signs include if a person talks about:
- Killing themselves
- Feeling hopeless
- Having no reason to live
- Being a burden to others
- Feeling trapped
- Unbearable pain
Direct vs. Indirect Language that may be used by a person considering suicide:
Direct:
- “I’ve decided to kill myself”
- “I wish I were dead”
- “I’m going to commit suicide”
- “I’m going to end it all”
- “If (such and such) doesn’t happen, I’ll kill myself”
Indirect:
- “I’m tired of life, I just can’t go on”
- “My family would be better off without me”
- “Who cares if I’m dead anyway”
- “I just want out”
- “I won’t be around much longer”
- “Pretty soon you won’t have to worry about me”
- “I just want to go to sleep and not wake up”
- “I just don’t care anymore”
Behaviors that may signal risk, especially if related to a painful event, loss or change, include:
- Previous attempts
- Putting personal affairs in order
- Sudden interest or disinterest in religion
- Acquiring gun or stockpiling pills
- Increased use of alcohol or drugs or relapse
- Looking for a way to end their lives, such as searching online for methods
- Withdrawing from activities
- Isolating from family and friends
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Visiting or calling people to say goodbye
- Giving away prized possessions
- Aggression or sudden mood boost
- Fatigue
Situational events that may signal risk, especially if related to a painful event, loss or change, include:
- Getting fired
- An unwanted move
- Death of a loved one, especially by suicide
- Recent diagnosis of serious or terminal illness
- Sudden loss of freedom/fear of punishment
- Loss of financial security
- Loss of a major relationship, therapist, counselor, or teacher
- Fear of becoming a burden to others
- People who are considering suicide often display one or more of the following moods:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Loss of interest
- Irritability
- Humiliation/shame
- Agitation/anger
- Relief/sudden improvement
Offer Support
If you notice any of these signs or other changes in a peer or loved one:
- Reach out to them and ask how they are doing. Plan a conversation with them when you have plenty of time and privacy.
- Share the behaviors and changes that have concerned you.
- Allow the person to share their concerns and thoughts and offer to help them find the appropriate resources.
- Directly ask if the person is thinking about suicide. Asking about suicide does not increase a person’s risk for suicide, to the contrary it can be a relief that they can share these thoughts with someone else.
- Offer hope when they need it most. Your offer of unconditional support and encouragement can be crucial to a person thinking about suicide.
- Let the person know that help is available and reassure them that their feelings are temporary and that you value their presence in your life.
- If you feel the person is an immediate danger to themselves or someone else call Campus Security or dial 911.
Post-Intervention Plan
Immediately following a suicide of a student/faculty/staff member, along with following the College’s Emergency Procedures Policy, this message will go out from the Dean of Counseling & Student Success (or designee):
Dear Members of the Delaware County Community College Community:
I am deeply saddened to inform you of the tragic loss of a member of our College family. [Individual’s name] passed away on [date]. We offer our deepest condolences to [individual name]’s family, friends and loved ones. During this time of great loss, we are reminded of the importance of community. Losing a fellow student or member of our college can be very difficult. I encourage those who feel they may need additional support to contact the Counseling Center at your local campus. As a reminder, you may drop-in remotely without an appointment to meet with a counselor or utilize the 24 hours/7 day resources for immediate support, such as 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 on any phone; Chester County Crisis at 610-280-3270; Delaware County Mobile Crisis at 1-855-889-7827; and Crisis Textline-text “HOME” to 741741.
