Skip to main content
Apply Request Info

Suicide Prevention Plan PPU CARES: CONNECT - ASSESS - RESPOND - ENCOURAGE - SUPPORT

The Point Park University Counseling Center knows that at times the challenges of life can become increasingly difficult to navigate and can lead to feelings of distress and thoughts of self-harm. We want to ensure that all students, staff, and faculty are aware of the risk factors, warning signs, and resources available to anyone experiencing a mental health crisis. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, there are many ways to get immediate help.  

State & Local Helplines

  • Resolve Crisis Network 
    Provides around-the-clock mental health crisis intervention, and stabilization services.
    Contact Information: Call Resolve Crisis Services for help at     1-888-796-8226. 
  • Allegheny County Peer Support Warmline Service 
    The Warmline is staffed by mental health consumers who provide support to peers by telephone. The Telephone Support Specialists are trained to actively listen to their peers, empathize with their concerns and empower individuals to choose their path to wellness and recovery.
    Contact Information:     Call 866-661-9276. Open daily from 9am to 1am. 
  • Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR) 
    PAAR provides free, confidential support, education, and advocacy to end sexual violence in Allegheny County. PAAR offers crisis intervention, individual therapy, a variety of group therapies, and wellness workshops.
  • Contact Information: 81 South 19th Street, Pittsburgh, PA. Call 1-866-363-7273. Open 24 hours a day; walk-in hours are Wednesdays 9am - 5pm.
  • Center for Victims 
    The Center for Victims offers support from a caring, professional staff that is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week to respond to emergency needs of crime victims and witnesses, and answer questions. The hotline serves as the gateway to all of our services. Anyone can call the hotline seeking help for themselves or others, including victims and witnesses and their families or friends, law enforcement, hospitals, social workers or mental health professionals.
    Contact Information: 3433 East Carson St., Suite #300, Pittsburgh, PA 15203. Call 1-866-644-2882 (24/7 access).

National Hotlines & Resources

  • 988 Lifeline  
    Call or text '988' if you are experiencing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to. 988 also offers an online chat (click the bold title above to be redirected to their website) 
  • Línea 988 de Prevención del Suicidio y Crisis  
    Para acceder al apoyo en español, marque 988 y presione 2. Para iniciar una conversación de mensaje de texto en español con el 988 Lifeline, envía la palabra AYUDA a 988. 
  • National Domestic Violence Hotline  
    Call (800) 799-7233 or text START to 88788. Also offers an online chat option (click the bold title above to be redirected to their website) 
  • Trevor Project (LGBTQ+) Crisis Line 
    Call 866-488-7386 or text START to 678678. Also offers an online chat option (click the bold title above to be redirected to their website) 
  • Asian LifeNet Hotline 
    Network offering support in Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, and Fujianese. Call 1-877-990-8585 
  • SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline  
    1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746. Provides 24/7/365 crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters 

On Campus

  • University Police 
    Point Park University Police (Public Safety) is available on campus 24/7 and may be contacted by dialing 2222 from any campus phone, or 412-392-3960 from any other phone. University Police may also be accessed by using one of the emergency boxes that are installed at various campus locations. At the touch of the button, the police are on their way to you. 


Off Campus

  • Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic 
    UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital’s Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES), located in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood, is open 24 hours a day for people of all ages. Provides mental health services, including emergency hospitalizations. 
    Contact Information: For an emergency, please call     412-624-1000 or toll-free 1-877-624-4100. 
  • Resolve Crisis Network 
    Provides around-the-clock mental health crisis intervention, and stabilization services. If you are dealing with a problem, big or small, call Resolve Crisis Services. They are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  Resolve provides free counseling and other mental health crisis support to Allegheny County residents. 
    Contact Information:  Call     1-888-796-8226.

Mental Health Support & Resources at the University Counseling Center

The Point Park University Counseling Center (UCC) addresses the mental health needs of the university community through a variety of services. We provide a safe, confidential environment for students to talk about personal or academic concerns. We assist students who need to connect with mental health resources in the community, and support staff and faculty who have concerns about the well-being of a student. We strive to promote students’ capacity for psychological growth and maturation through greater self-awareness and psychological insight. 

At present, the center can provide a combination of in-person and online services. If you are interested in any service at the UCC, get in touch by email (counseling@pointpark.edu) or phone call (412-392-3977) to learn more, or schedule a screening or consultation. As an additional support and resource to students, we have launched a partnership with Joon, a teletherapy service designed specifically for young adults. 

 

Resources for Employees

Employee Assistance Program offers free, confidential counseling services for full-time Point Park University employees and family members residing in the household. EAP solutions cover up to 6 visits per issue. Access at  www.lifesolutionsforyou.com  and use rganization/company code: point 

 

Self-Search Tools for Therapy & Psychiatry

dark-thrivingcampus-logo.png

  • The UCC partners with Thriving Campus, a specialized search engine which aids college students in finding local therapists. Contact the UCC if you would like assistance. 
  • Psychology Today: this tool can be used to help find therapists and psychiatrists across the United States who accept your health insurance. 
  • growtherapy:  Similar to the Psychology Today search engine, growtherapy may be used to help find therapists in the area who accept your health insurance. Additionally, growtherapy's search engine tool allows users to search for practitioners that can aid in medication management. 

Local Free & Low-Cost Counseling Services

  • UpStreet Pittsburgh: UpStreet Pittsburgh offers free virtual counseling and low cost in person counseling for individuals 12-22 years old.
    Contact Information: 5844 Forward Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217; (412) 738-5615
  • Duquesne Psychology Clinic: Duquesne Psychology Clinic offers low-cost individual therapy,, couples & family therapy, and group therapy. Consults with a psychiatrist and options for various psychological assessments are also available. 
    Contact Information: 908 Rockwell Hall, 600 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15282; 412-396-6562 
  • Pitt Psychology Clinic: Pitt Psychology Clinic offers low-cost counseling, neuropsych testing, and medication management. Contact Information: 3820 Sennott Square, 3rd floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15260; 412-624-8822
  • Open Path Collective: The Open Path Collective search engine is a tool that can be used to help find local therapists that utilize sliding scale fee options for those without insurance.
    **Sliding scale fee schedules are an income-baed pricing model where the cost of a service is adjusted depending on a client's household income and family size. 
  • Pittsburgh Psychoanalytic Center "Clinic Without Walls": t The PPC Clinic Without Walls is a non-profit organization offering low-cost psychodynamic therapy for adults, adolescents, and children in the Pittsburgh community. Clients are seen at the training sites for their particular clinician and/or UPMC Western Psychiatric Institute Hospital in Oakland. 
    Contact Info: For more information, or to begin the application process, contact Mia Bernard (Administrative Director) at 412-661-4224.      


BIPOC Mental Health Resources

  • Therapy for Black Girls: Therapy for Black Girls is an online space dedicated to encouraging the mental wellness of Black women and girls.
  • Black Mental Health Alliance: Resource for finding a therapist and other mental health resources.
  • Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective: Black virtual wellness directory. 
  • LatinX Therapy: Resource for finding a therapist and a variety of other mental health resources.
  • Inclusive Therapists: Provides mental health resources for the BIPOC community. 
  • Ayudate: Ayudate is a nonprofit organization that connects Spanish-speaking individuals with affordable, culturally responsive bilingual mental health services, resources, and telehealth support.
  • DRS Addiction Support for Marginalized Groups: Drug Resource Services (DRS) understands that students from historically marginalized groups face unique challenges when seeking help for mental health and addiction. They have created resource guides to help individuals better understand what shaped the current standard of care for their demographic. DRS highlights resources, helpful organizations, and tools for students coming from Black, LGBTQ+, Asian, Latinx, and Native American communities.

LGBTQ+ Resources

  • Central Outreach Wellness Center: Central Outreach Wellness Center is an LGBTQ+ wellness center; they offer free counseling and other services.
    Contact Information: 127 Anderson St., Suite 101, Timber Court Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15212, 412-348-8800
  • Persad Center: Persad Center is a human service organization whose mission is to improve the well-being of the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning) communities and the HIV/AIDS communities. They offer free counseling and other services.
    Contact Information: 5301 Butler St., Suite 100, Pittsburgh, PA 15201, 412-441-9786
  • DRS Addiction Support for Marginalized Groups: Drug Resource Services (DRS) understands that students from historically marginalized groups face unique challenges when seeking help for mental health and addiction. They have created resource guides to help individuals better understand what shaped the current standard of care for their demographic. DRS highlights resources, helpful organizations, and tools for students coming from Black, LGBTQ+, Asian, Latinx, and Native American communities.

Sexual Assault & Crisis Support

  • Center for Victims: The Center for Victims offers support from a caring, professional staff that is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week to respond to emergency needs of crime victims and witnesses, and answer questions. The hotline serves as the gateway to all of our services. Anyone can call the hotline seeking help for themselves or others, including victims and witnesses and their families or friends, law enforcement, hospitals, social workers or mental health professionals.
    Contact Information: 3433 East Carson St., Suite #300, Pittsburgh, PA 15203,1-866-644-2882 (24/7 access).
  • Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR): PAAR provides free, confidential support, education, and advocacy to end sexual violence in Allegheny County. PAAR offers crisis intervention, individual therapy, a variety of group therapies, and wellness workshops.
  • Contact Information: 81 South 19th Street, Pittsburgh, PA; 1-866-363-7273. Open 24 hours a day; walk-in hours are Wednesdays 9am - 5pm.

 

Mental Health Support Groups (Off Campus & Virtual Options)

  • Pittsburgh Area Al-Anon: 

    Al‑Anon is a mutual support program for people whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking. By sharing common experiences and applying the Al-Anon principles, families and friends of alcoholics can bring positive changes to their individual situations, whether or not the alcoholic admits the existence of a drinking problem or seeks help.

  • Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings & Alcohol Support Groups: 

    Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who come together to solve their drinking problem.  It doesn’t cost anything to attend A.A. meetings. There are no age or education requirements to participate. Membership is open to anyone who wants to do something about their drinking problem. A.A.’s primary purpose is to help alcoholics to achieve sobriety.

  • NAR-Anon:: 

    NAR-Anon is a 12-step program for family and friends of individuals with addiction. NAR-Anon specifically helps and provides support for those who are struggling with someone who has a drug addiction. This can be someone that is in rehabilitation or someone who is still suffering from addiction.

  • Narcotics Anonymous: Narcotics Anonymous is a support group for those attempting to recover from drug addiction.

 

National Support & Hotlines

  • Jed Foundation (JED) – offers resources for students and universities to support young people’s mental health 
  • Crisis Text Line – a free, 24/7, confidential text message service for people in crisis. Text HOME to 741741 in the United States. 
  • Trans Lifeline – Trans Lifeline connects trans people to the community, support, and resources they need to survive and thrive. Call 877-565-8860. 
  • The Trevor Project – providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning youth. Call 1-866-488-7386, text START to 678678 or chat online 24/7. 
  • Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline – offers crisis intervention, information, and referrals to thousands of emergency, social service, and support resources. Call 1-800-422-4453. 
  • Eating Disorder Hope – several eating disorder hotlines you can call 24/7 for yourself or a loved one 

 

Shelters, Drop-In Centers, Organizations & Helpful Apps

  • Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh: WC&S provides free and confidential services for all domestic violence victims regardless of race, gender, sexual identity, or any other factor.
    Services Include:
    -A 24-hour hotline for safety planning, emotional support, and referral for other services.
    -Temporary shelter for abused victims and their children.
    -Legal options counseling and court accompaniment.
    Contact the Women’s Center & Shelter:
    -24/7 Hotline - 412-687-8005
    -Connect with an advocate by texting (412) 744-8445 or by visiting https://wcspittsburgh.org/  and clicking 'CHAT' for Help.
  • BigBurgh: a free Pittsburgh-based web app that connects individuals to low-barrier community resources including food, shelter, medical care, mental health support, crisis hotlines, and other social services. The platform is designed to help individuals quickly access up-to-date resources 24/7, particularly those experiencing housing loss or other immediate needs.
  • Bright Sky App: Women's Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh recently transitioned from the 'RUSafe App' used in past years to aid users in assessing the safety of their relationship, to the newly developed Bright Sky app. The Bright Sky app, which assists users in gauging the safety of their, or another person’s, relationship. Within the Bright Sky app there are also educational components to familiarize users with different types of abuse, available support options around the U.S., online safety, consent, safely leaving an abusive relationship, and much more.   
  • Center for Victims: 1-866-644-2882. Caring, professional staff is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week to respond to emergency needs of crime victims and witnesses, answer questions, and provide support. The hotline serves as the gateway to all of our services. Anyone can call the hotline seeking help for themselves or others, including victims and witnesses and their families or friends, law enforcement, hospitals, social workers or mental health professionals.
  • Womanspace East, Inc.: Womanspace East, Inc. is a nonprofit organization serving homeless families with dependent children in the greater Pittsburgh area. Families seeking shelter are referred to us through the Allegheny Link. For a referral for shelter services, call 1-866-730-2368.
  • Bethlehem Haven: Provides emergency shelter, other housing programs, and monetary/basic assistance to unhoused women. If you are in need of emergency housing please call 412-391-1348 ext. 250.
  • Pleasant Valley Emergency Shelter: accommodates the needs of 25 men and male-identifying individuals who are homeless every night of the year. The shelter opens daily at 4:30 p.m. Location: 1601 Brighton road, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Drop In Centers
  • Chain of Hope Drop-in Center
    611 South Avenue
    Wilkinsburg, PA  15221
    (412) 247-5018
    Hours: M, T, Th, Sa, Su - 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM;
    W, F - 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
  • Sally and Howard Levin Clubhouse* 
    2609 Murray Avenue 
    Pittsburgh, PA 15217 
    (412) 422-1850 
    Hours:  M, T, Th – 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM;         
    W, F – 8:00 AM – 7 PM     
  • The Hub Drop-in Center
    26th Street at Smallman Street
    Pittsburgh, PA  15222
    (412) 338-0883
    Hours:  Weekdays - 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
  • Maverick Drop-In Center
    310 Central City Plaza
    New Kensington, PA  15068
    (724) 334-2386
    Hours:  Call as schedule changes monthly
  • Wellsprings 
    903 Watson Street 
    Pittsburgh, PA  15219 
    (412) 263-2545 
    Hours:  Weekdays 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM 
 * Denotes that participants must be referred by their mental health care provider.

 

 

Mental Health Advocacy Services

  • Autism Society of Pittsburgh - provides information, referral, and advocacy services for autistic individuals, their parents, families, and the professionals who work with them. 
  • Director's Action Line (DAL) - specialists will address concerns and answer questions about services provided by the Allegheny County Department of Human Services. 
  • Pennsylvania Health Law Project - offers free legal advice to low-income individuals with insurance problems as well as those without health insurance. 
  • Peer Support and Advocacy Network (PSAN) - works to remove the stigma of mental illness and provide an environment where individuals with mental illness work together to recover and participate as valued members of the community. 

 

 Follow the five action steps below for communicating with someone who may be suicidal. These steps are supported by evidence in the field of suicide prevention and are helpful in guiding conversations. 

ASK: “Are you thinking about suicide?” It’s not an easy question to ask, but it can help start a conversation. Studies show that asking people if they are suicidal does not increase suicidal behavior or thoughts. 

BE THERE: Listening without judgment is key to learning what the person is thinking and feeling. Research suggests acknowledging and talking about suicide may reduce suicidal thoughts. 

HELP KEEP THEM SAFE: Reducing access to highly lethal items or places can help prevent suicide. Asking the person if they have a plan and making lethal means less available or less deadly can help the person stay safe when suicidal thoughts arise. 

HELP THEM CONNECT: Connecting the person with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) and other community resources can give them a safety net when they need it. You can also help them reach out to a trusted family member, friend, spiritual advisor, or mental health professional. 

FOLLOW UP: Staying in touch with the person after they have experienced a crisis or been discharged from care can make a difference. Studies show that supportive, ongoing contact  can play an important role in suicide prevention. 

Learn more about suicide prevention and the #BeThe1To campaign. 

Warning Signs

  • Talking about suicide, wanting to die, kill oneself 
  • Looking for a way to kill oneself, such as searching online or buying a gun 
  • Having a plan for carrying out suicide 
  • Talking about feeling worthless, hopeless, or having no reason to live 
  • Talking about being a burden to others 
  • Suddenly happier and calmer, especially after a period of depression or sadness 
  • Giving away prized possessions 
  • Getting affairs in order; making arrangements 
  • Increasing alcohol or drug use 
  • Preoccupation with death 
  • Acting anxiously or agitated; behaving recklessly. 
  • Sleeping too little or too much 
  • Withdrawal from or changing in social connections/situations 
  • Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge. 
  • Displaying extreme mood swings 
  • Anger or hostility that seems out of character or out of context 
  • Recent increased agitation or irritability 


Risk Factors

  • Diagnosis of depression 
  • Previous suicide attempt 
  • Family history of suicide 
  • Loss of job, home, money 
  • Death or terminal illness of a loved one 
  • Divorce or loss of a major, significant relationship 
  • Loss of health, either real or imagined 
  • Someone close to the person has completed suicide 
  • Recent disappointment or rejection 
  • Being expelled from school/fired from job 
  • Sudden loss of freedom/fear of punishment 
  • Victim of assault or bullying 
  • Questioning gender 

Reference: Prevent Suicide PA website. 

 

   If you call 9-8-8: 
If you call 988, you will  first hear a greeting message. You are given choices of who to connect with in the greeting; the 988 Lifeline has specially trained counselors for Veterans (through the Veterans Crisis Line, operated by the Veteran’s Administration), and Spanish speakers. Your call is then routed to one of the national networks or a local 988 Lifeline network crisis center based on your selections and then based on your phone’s area code. A trained crisis counselor answers the phone, listens to you, works to understand how your problem is affecting you, provides support, and shares resources if needed. 

  If you call Mobile Crisis: 
Your location and name will be inquired about by the caller. They might also inquire about the type of insurance you have since this information will be helpful if they need to contact care. They will listen to you and offer support and encouragement as you discuss what is going on and how you are feeling. They will offer to follow up with you and put you in touch with resources like counseling if, after talking with you, you start feeling better. A crisis worker will come meet you at a location of your choice if you believe that you are still in crisis. They will then talk with you and assist you in determining what kind of assistance you require. If the crisis worker, whether in person or over the phone, believes you are in imminent danger, they will call for an emergency response. 

  If you go to an Emergency Room: 
Bring an identification document, insurance card, emergency contact information, and an extra change of clothes, if feasible. The check-in clerk will meet you when you arrive. Tell them why you are in the area. You might need to wait in the waiting area for a while depending on how serious the situation is. A nurse, an emergency room physician, a social worker, and sometimes a psychiatrist will examine you. They will take your vitals even though you are there for suicide thoughts. They will decide whether to admit you after speaking with the necessary assistance or look for another facility that can help you further. 

  If you go to a Psychiatric Hospital: 
The procedure resembles an ER in every way. It is likely that a social worker, intake worker, and psychiatrist will assess you. This process may take a few hours. The social worker at the hospital can assist in making referrals to community resources such as counseling, support groups, or your neighborhood community mental health center if the evaluation results show that you do not require inpatient treatment. 

Suicide Prevention & Postvention Communication Plans

Suicide Prevention Communication Plan

Point Park University’s Counseling Center, in collaboration with the Department of Student Affairs, will distribute suicide prevention communications twice annually: at the beginning of the Fall (September) and Spring (January) semesters. These messages will be shared via email with both students and employees and will include suicide awareness information along with links to free crisis response and mental health resources found on the Suicide Prevention Plan webpage. 

Throughout the Fall and Spring semesters, the Counseling Center will also promote mental health and stress management resources via its Instagram account (@lets.talk.ppu). 

In addition, the Counseling Center will host a suicide prevention event each semester: 'Lights for Life' in September and an 'Out of the Darkness Walk' in April. The Center will also partner with Pioneer Ambassadors to implement a suicide awareness campaign featuring 'Find Your Anchor' boxes as part of ongoing outreach throughout the academic year. 

Postvention and Communication Plan

In the event of a confirmed student or employee death, the university will promptly provide support services and communicate directly with impacted students, faculty, and staff. The Office of the President, Counseling Center, Human Resources, and Student Affairs will coordinate with Public Relations to ensure accurate and timely information is shared with the appropriate parties. Email: counseling@pointpark.edu 

Email: counseling@pointpark.edu
Phone: 412-392-3977

Point Park University
201 Wood Street Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1984
Ready to learn more?