Talking about suicide: A guide for college and university staff

Trigger warning: these pages include content discussing suicidal feelings and self-harm 

Why do people have suicidal feelings? 

Suicidal feelings can occur in response to a range of situations, including when someone is depressed or highly anxious, hopeless, lonely, or struggling with major transitions, for example, including the move to university.  

How might these situations affect students’ behaviour? 

Whatever your role in the university, you may notice students that you are familiar with acting differently from normal. Perhaps you may notice changes in appearance or behaviour which concern you. 

Possible changes you may notice 

• Significant change in the person’s weight or appetite. 
• Diminished attention to clothes or appearance. 
• Speaking and/or moving with unusual speed or slowness. 
• Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities (e.g. hobbies, outdoor activities, hanging around with friends). 
• Withdrawal from family and friends. 
• Fatigue or loss of energy. 
• Diminished ability to think or concentrate, slowed thinking or indecisiveness. 
• Expressing feelings of worthlessness, self-reproach, or guilt. 

What kinds of things might they say?  

A person might say: "I want to die", "I wish I was dead", "It would be easier if I wasn’t here." 

You may hear them talking about being a burden, or not wanting to be here anymore. They might not say anything, but you may have a feeling that all is not well. 

Do these signs always mean they intend to end their life? 

No. Sometimes the thoughts are just fleeting, and there is no real intent to end their life. But these signs should always be taken seriously. 

Signs of suicidal intent 

Sometimes it is obvious that a person is thinking about ending their own life and you may notice signs, such as getting their affairs in order or giving their possessions away. You may notice the person acquiring the means to end their life or writing a suicide note.  

This content has been adapted from “Talking about suicide: A guide for college staff" originally developed as a partnership between the Association of Colleges and the Charlie Waller Trust and has been endorsed by Universities UK and Papyrus. It was written by members of the Charlie Waller team who are experts in the field – Dr Andrew Reeves, Kirsten Amis, Kath Caffrey – and reviewed by Prof. Keith Hawton at the Centre for Suicide Research.