Walters State Community College is committed to the mental health wellness of our students, faculty and staff. As such, and in compliance with the requirements of T.C.A. § 49-7-1, Walters State Community College has developed a suicide prevention plan that engages in a variety of initiatives to improve and provide crisis services.
Walters State Community College’s Suicide Prevention Plan will be disseminated to faculty, staff, and students each academic term. The plan will be included in the student handbook and emailed to faculty, staff and students on a yearly basis.
Walters State has developed a comprehensive approach to increase mental health awareness though efforts of prevention.
Walters State’s contact for suicide prevention is the Counseling Office on each campus Morristown 423.585.6800; Greeneville 423.798.7962; Claiborne 423.585.6802; Sevierville 865.774.5812
Key components of Walters State’s suicide prevention work include:
A suicide or mental health wellness syllabus statement included on Faculty Syllabi for all courses:
Walters State is committed to and cares about all students. Support services are available for any person at Walters State who is experiencing feelings of: being overwhelmed, hopelessness, depression, thinking about dying by suicide, or is otherwise in need of assistance. For immediate help contact the National Suicide Lifeline Number 1-800-273-TALK(8255) or Text “TN” to 741741 or the Trevor Lifeline at 1-866-488-7386. Veterans may also wish to contact the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 (press 1) or Text 838255.
Walters State has established relationships with the following local Mental Health facilities for the purpose of providing prevention education, training and/or prevention screenings:
Information regarding such relationships at Walters State Community College is available in the counseling office on each campus. The counseling office will have a comprehensive list of partners and services available to members of the Walters State community which may include crisis referral services, prevention screenings, training programs, etc. Any campus member interested in accessing the services/agencies and training noted above, or for more information about Walters State’s suicide prevention efforts should contact the counseling office.
There is no typical suicidal person. No age group, ethnicity, or background is immune. Fortunately, many troubled individuals display behaviors, deliberately or inadvertently that signal their suicidal intent. Recognizing the warning signs (http://tspn.org/warning-signs) and learning what to do next may help save a life.
If someone exhibits behavioral patterns that may indicate possible risk for suicide, they should be watched closely. If these behaviors appear numerous or severe, seek professional help at once. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) provides access to trained telephone counselors, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or the Crisis Text Line by texting TN to 741 741.
If a student, faculty, or staff member encounters a suicidal student, faculty, or staff member, the following office should be contacted immediately:
The Counseling Office Morristown 423.585.6800, Greeneville 423.798.1962 Claiborne 423.585.6802, Sevierville 865.774.5812
Should the incident occur after hours, or the above noted office is not available, the following should be contacted immediately:
Campus Police Morristown 423.585.6752
Campus Police Claiborne 423.851.4778
Campus Police Greeneville 423.798.7961
Campus Police Sevierville 865.774.5813
If the suicidal person has plans and access to a lethal means, is planning to make an attempt very soon, or is currently in the process of making an attempt, this individual is in imminent danger and should not be left alone. Get the person help immediately. Determine who can get there quickly and keep the individual safe.
Should you have this concern, you should immediately call 9-1-1.
Walters State has established relationships with the following local Mental Health facilities for the purpose of crisis referral services:
The safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff is of the utmost importance. In situations that require immediate action because of safety or other concerns, Walters State will take any reasonable administrative action or accommodation protocols that are appropriate. Such interim actions may include, but are not limited to: adjustments to schedules, ADA accommodations, adjustments of course, exams, schedules, facilitation of hold harmless voluntary withdrawals, incompletes, etc.
Information regarding such relationships at Walters State is available in the counseling office on each campus. The counselors will have available a comprehensive list of partners and services available to members of the Walters State community. Any campus member interested in more information about Walters State’s suicide intervention protocol should contact the counseling office.
Because all student/faculty/staff deaths affect our community, whether that death is accidental, due to illness, or the result of self-inflicted injury, it is important for Walters State to respond to and recognize all deaths in a consistent manner. Campus leadership and the communications department has developed a protocol that includes a campus response to a student/faculty/staff suicide to decrease the trauma experienced by the students and other campus community members left behind and to help prevent further suicides through contagion.
If a student, staff, or faculty member death occurs by suicide, the following person, or their designee, should be notified immediately:
The Vice President of Student Affairs 423.585.2680
Walters State has established relationships with the following local Mental Health facilities for the purpose of working to decrease community trauma.
Information regarding such relationships at Walters State is available in the counseling office on each campus. The counseling office will have available a comprehensive list of partners and services available. Any campus member interested in more information about Walters State’s suicide prevention protocol should contact the counseling office.
Walters State’s comprehensive suicide prevention, intervention and postvention protocol is available. For more information, please contact the Counseling Office Morristown 423-585-6800, Greeneville 423-798-1962 Claiborne 423-585-6802, Sevierville 865-774-5812
Student Services Building
Room U141
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Call: 423.585.6800
Fax: 423.318.2369