Dealing with a Mental Health Emergency

Warning signs that someone may be suicidal can include:

  • A noticeable change in behaviour, especially if the person becomes withdrawn.
  • Expressing feelings of failure, hopelessness and low self-esteem.
  • Talking about suicide, not wanting to live or not seeing a future.
  • Not looking after themselves, such as not eating or looking after their appearance.
  • Problems with sleeping, especially early-morning waking.
  • Suddenly tidying up their affairs, e.g. disposing of possessions or taking out life-insurance.
  • Starting to apparently recover from a period of depression.

Their risk of suicide may be increased by the means they are considering and by the opportunities available to them, and also by previous experience of their own or other people’s suicide attempts.

Due to COVID-19, we have created a new emergency mental health flow chart, that needs to be followed if you have concerns regarding a student's mental wellbeing and / or safety. 

Other sources of support in a crisis: