Suicide Prevention with Students in Tertiary Education

In this course, Carmen Betterridge, Manager Suicide Prevention Postvention, Pro Vice Chancellor for Students, University of Wollongong, acknowledges the high student numbers and the great complexity of university systems. Combined with the fact that suicidality is also a complex, multifactorial problem, Betterridge asks how we can understand the people, systems, and environment in order to leverage opportunities for innovation in reducing the incidence of suicidality. Suicide needs to be talked about because of the many transitions through which university students pass, the high rates of suicidal ideation among students, and the ever-greater demands for diversity inclusion. Noting that there are opportunities and protective factors in multiple “touchpoints” with students and in the facilitators of change that already exist in the university environment, Betterridge proposes comprehensive approaches to promoting health and mitigating risk. She shares the UOW guiding principles for suicide prevention and postvention.