Get Help
Use these resources to find the help you, your friends, or family need. If the situation is potentially life-threatening, get emergency help by calling 911.
Safety & Support Services
The University offers a variety of services to help you.
| Department | Phone | Location | Report Online | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University Police | ||||
| Title IX | ||||
| Dean of Students | ||||
| Health Center | ||||
| Counseling Center |
Suicide Awareness & Prevention
Every suicide is a tragedy that affects families, communities and entire countries and has long-lasting effects on the people left behind. Resources include:
Immediate Help
If the individual is in immediate danger, call the University Police emergency help line.
If you are uncertain or the individual is not in immediate danger, call the Counseling Center during operating hours which are weekdays between 8am to 4:30pm.
After hours, you can call the non-emergency University Police help line.
Identify Warnings & Risk Factors
Warning Signs
Some common warning signs exist that can indicate that a student may be considering harming her/himself. These signs may be clear or subtle, and may or may not predict suicidal behavior. Evaluate the immediate risk of suicide by engaging the student in a conversation. Use the following warning signs to guide your conversation (list is not all inclusive):
If a person talks about:
- Killing
- Feeling hopeless
- Having no reason to live
- Being a burden to others
- Feeling trapped
- Unbearable pain
If a person behaves differently, such as:
- Increased use of alcohol or drugs
- 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
- Fatigue
If a person display one or more of the following moods:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Loss of Interest
- Irritability
- Humiliation/Shame
- Agitation/Anger
- Relief/Sudden Improvement
Risk Factors
Risk factors are characteristics or conditions that increase the chance that a person may try to take their life.
Health
- Depression
- Substance use problems
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Personality traits of aggression, mood changes and poor relationships
- Conduct disorder
- Anxiety disorders
- Serious physical health conditions including pain
- Traumatic brain injury
Environmental Factors
- Access to lethal means including firearms and drugs
- Prolonged stress, such as harassment, bullying, relationship problems or unemployment
- Stressful life events, like rejection, divorce, financial crisis, other life transitions or loss
- Exposure to another person’s suicide, or to graphic or sensationalized accounts of suicide
Historical Factors
- Previous suicide attempts
- Family history of suicide
- Childhood abuse, neglect or trauma
Ways to Cope with Life
Sexual Assault Response
The term sexual assault refers to sexual contact or behavior that occurs without explicit consent. Resources include:
Immediate Help
Law enforcement will assist you as much or as little you ask. You are not required to report an incident to law enforcement. Call 911 or reach out to University Police at 923. 294.1000.
For support services, see Title IX information.
Consider a Forensic Exam
You may choose to have a sexual assault forensic exam, sometimes known as a “rape kit,” to preserve possible DNA evidence and receive important medical care. You don’t have to report the crime to have an exam, but the process gives you the chance to safely store evidence should you decide to report at a later time. You can stop, pause, or skip a step at any time during the exam. It is entirely your choice and won’t cost you.
Try to avoid activities that could potentially damage evidence such as:
- Bathing
- Showering
- Using the restroom
- Changing clothes
- Combing hair
- Cleaning up the area
It’s natural to want to go through these motions after a traumatic experience. If you have done any of these activities, you can still have an exam performed. You may want to bring a spare change of clothes with you to the hospital or health facility where you’re going to have the exam.
Complete the exam as soon as possible. In most cases, DNA evidence needs to be collected within 72 hours in order to be analyzed by a crime lab—but a sexual assault forensic exam can reveal other forms of evidence beyond this time frame that can be useful if you decide to report.
Exams are completed by a certified nurse or healthcare professional at a hospital. The exam may be completed by Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) or Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners (SAFEs) and Sexual Assault Examiners (SAEs). Both received specialized education and fulfill clinical requirements to perform the exam.
Sexual assault can affect your physical health. You may have injuries and trauma related to the assaults that aren’t immediately visible. During an exam you may be able to access treatment for these injuries, receive preventative treatment for STIs, and obtain emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy.
Where to seek an exam and treatment
For more information, see RAINN.org
Online Reporting
If you or someone you know has been subjected to sexual assault or sexual violence, you may report such misconduct online with the Office of Title IX & Discrimination Resolution.
Report Sexual MisconductDrug & Alcohol Safety
The illegal consumption of drugs and alcohol is prohibited on campus. Alcohol consumption is limited to specific areas and to those that are 21 years or older. Students will not be penalized when reporting a potentially harmful or dangerous situation. Resources include:
Immediate Help
For alcohol or drug overdose, contact EMS immediately by dialing 911. You can reach University Police directly at 936.294.1000.
Amnesty from Disciplinary Actions
Sometimes, when potentially harmful or dangerous situations occur that involve alcohol or drugs people may be reluctant to call for help. This is often because of a fear that they can face consequences for something they shouldn’t have been doing. With the Good SAM program amnesty is guaranteed to anyone that is acting in the best interest of someone else. So, if you ever feel that the safety or well-being of someone else is in danger, don’t hesitate to make the call!
For more information, see the Office of Health Promotions