Student Mental Health & Suicide Prevention
We are excited to have you as part of the Bryn Mawr College community! We recognize that the college years are a time of accelerated growth, significant challenges, and considerable stress.
The Student Health & Wellness Team, which includes Counseling Services, Health Services, and OwlWell, are here to support you throughout your time at Bryn Mawr. We are flexible, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of our community and provide students with emergency resources, health care, mental health support, and health prevention education. Please review the following information to view the resources available to you in times of need.
Please review the following information to view the resources available to you in times of need.
Recognizing Distress
As part of orientation, first-year students participate in presentations on health and wellness and are given information on resources to support well-being.
Bryn Mawr Counseling Services also offers the Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR): Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training at various points throughout the year for Bryn Mawr College students, faculty, and staff who are interested in learning more about how to support students who may be struggling with suicidal thoughts.
QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) is a 90-minute evidence-based suicide prevention gatekeeper training designed to provide participants with knowledge about suicide and confidence in basic skills to help someone in crisis. During this training, participants will learn about suicide statistics, differentiate myths from facts about suicide, and practice the core skills—Question, Persuade, and Refer. Information about campus resources and how to access them will be given. To request a QPR session for your club, team, or department, please e-mail bmccounseling@brynmawr.edu with your request.
In addition to the training above, we strongly encourage all members of our campus community to utilize the information provided below to increase their preparedness and confidence in talking about mental health and suicide prevention.
Communication Plan
Within the first month of the fall and spring semesters, all members of the Bryn Mawr College community will receive communication on suicide prevention and mental health support resources. Health & Wellness will partner with Communications to post QR code stickers in campus bathrooms with links to campus mental health and support resources. In addition, the Health & Wellness Center provides outreach, education, and suicide prevention training throughout the academic year. Programs are aimed at increasing awareness and improving suicide prevention skills. Programs are offered campus-wide and are available for staff, faculty, and students.
Postvention Response
Should a campus crisis event occur, including the death of a member of the Bryn Mawr College community, the Dean of the Undergraduate College will work in conjunction with various campus departments to offer available resources to support students and the entire campus community in the aftermath of the crisis and will share relevant and appropriate information to the extent possible. Support may include listening circles, connection with campus resources, and additional therapy groups.
When to Reach Out: Signs a Student May Be Struggling
- Sudden change in academic performance
- Not going to class
- Failing grades
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Excessive fatigue or excess energy
- Disheveled appearance or noticeable decline in personal hygiene
- Sudden and/or extreme mood changes or disproportionate emotional responses
- Frequent crying, overwhelming anxiety, or agitation
- Isolating from friends and family
- Dramatic weight loss or gain and/or preoccupation with food, weight, or body image
- Confused thoughts, disorganized speech, or bizarre behavior indicating loss of contact with reality
- Disruptive, aggressive or threatinging behavior
- Alcohol or other drup-related consequences such as vomitting or blacking out
- Cuts or burns on their body.
- Talking about suicide: in person, through text, or on social media
- Asking about or actively seeking access to ways to kill themselves (e.g. weapons, pills, etc.)
- Expressions of hopelessness about the future or being unable to change or improve
- Expressions of being a burden to friends, family, the college
- Difficulty connecting with others or isolating from friends and family
- Expressions of overwhelming guilt or shame
- Withdrawal or detaching from responsibilities and routine
- Physical signs that they have cut or injured themselves
- Giving away personal possessions
- Talking about “if/when I’m gone….”
Crisis or Emergency Situations
Campus Resources
Counseling Services
Tel: 610-526-7360
Student Life & Wellness Building (The Well), 2nd Floor
Counseling Services provides free, confidential, and culturally sensitive mental health services that support the psychological health of the diverse student population. These services include brief assessments, short-term counseling, psycho-educational groups and workshops, crisis intervention, case management, mediation, outreach, advocacy, psychiatric medication evaluation and management, and referral services. After hours and on weekends, or when Counseling Services is physically closed, support is always available by calling 610-526-7778.
Health Services
610-526-7360
Student Life & Wellness Building (The Well), 2nd Floor
Health Services provides general healthcare to all currently enrolled students while classes are in session. Though not an urgent care or emergency department, Health Services can provide treatment for many non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries along with preventative care services. After-hours, students may call TeamHealth, the Bryn Mawr College 24-hour Triage Nurse Line at 610-517-4921 for medical concerns.
OwlWell
Student Life & Wellness Building (The Well), 2nd Floor
OwlWell is Bryn Mawr's holistic wellness program. Managed by professional sta@ members and a dedicated team of student Peer Health and Wellness Educators, we support Bryn Mawr students' wellbeing through programming, advocacy, and outreach.
For questions or to request a wellness education program, please email: owlwell@brynmawr.edu
The Nest
Student Life & Wellness Building (The Well), 2nd Floor Lounge
The Nest is OwlWell’s dedicated wellness lounge. We believe that caring for yourself is important and that you should have a fun, safe, and supportive place to do that! Have a question about anything health and wellness related? Drop by to talk to one of our sta@ members or student Peer Health and Wellness Educators. We are here to help you explore health and wellness topics, point you towards resources, or just be a listening ear. In The Nest, you will also find: free safer sex supplies, free snacks and tea, craft supplies, comfy couches and bean bags, massage chair, well resources, fidgets, and so much more!
Student Support Services
Student Support Services provides non-clinical case management which includes: providing referrals, assessment, advocacy, student empowerment, as well as follow-up and resolution services. Please use the Student of Concern referral form to connect students to our services. Students may also use this form to self-refer.
Reasons to refer students:
- Distress related to anticipated transitions and/or unexpected events
- On and off-campus resource consultation
- Recent physical and/or mental health hospitalization
- Assistance with contacting faculty for short-term medical experience or personal emergencies impacting academics
- Leave guidance and support
Resources for Staff
Bryn Mawr College provides access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to full-time and part-time staff members. The benefit is available through Aetna and is designed to assist employees and their families with a wide range of issues, including:
- Individual Counseling
- Bereavement Counseling
- Relationship and Family Counseling
- Community Resources Referrals
- Work-related Stress
- Substance Abuse
- Legal/Financial Concerns
Access the program online at ResourcesForLiving.com or by calling Aetna directly at 1-800-865-3200. The use of Aetna services is confidential.