In 2020, a CDC study indicated that 25.5% of adults, ages 18-24, reported having seriously considered suicide in the past month, higher than any other adult age group.

During the 2022-2023 academic year, almost 40% of the TU Counseling Center’s (TUCC) 710 clients reported having suicidal ideations, an increase over the past several years, which is especially concerning given that a history of past attempts increases a student’s lifetime risk for suicide. 

With those statistics in mind, the TUCC was looking for ways to expand outreach to students who were struggling. 

“It is a major priority for us,” says Mollie Herman, director of TUCC. “We know that by increasing training to faculty, staff and students, they are better able to identify and support students in distress. And providing easily accessible and strategically placed crisis information to students is equally important.” 

Each year, the Towson University Foundation (TUF) awards grants to worthy programs in the TU community. In 2023, the TUCC was awarded $10,900, which provided valuable resources to expand the suicide prevention safety net through offering and incentivizing training and providing suicide prevention information in every on-campus residence. 

We are extraordinarily grateful to have been chosen to receive this grant. It may very well have saved lives.

Mollie Herman, Director, TU Counseling Center

The TUF Grant Award funded

  • 4,000 magnets with suicide prevention information placed in every room, in each residence hall.
  • High visibility signs for installation on the top stories of campus parking garages.
  • Empowerment for students, faculty and staff to notice students in distress and help connect them with resources.
  • Offering and incentivizing training opportunities for the campus community, including the purchase of iPads for remote training. 

If you know a student who needs help, have them contact the Counseling Center at 410-704-2512.

Tags: Giving

More from the Spring Issue