As Suicide Prevention Awareness Month begins, the UTA School of Social Work is encouraging the community to recognize an important resource for those experiencing a mental health crisis: the 988 Lifeline.
988 Day, observed Sept. 8, is designed to raise awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and the support it provides to people experiencing emotional distress. For social workers, the day also serves as an opportunity to highlight the profession’s role in suicide prevention and the importance of recognizing when someone may need help.
Dr. Regina T. Praetorius, Professor at the UTA School of Social Work, knows firsthand the importance of being prepared to respond to someone experiencing suicidal thoughts. Early in her career, she encountered a suicidal client and felt unprepared.
“I had learned from a local suicide and crisis center director that they offered a 60-hour intervention training, so that’s what I did,” Praetorius said. “It’s very comforting for me to know the training that happens for volunteers at the hotline allows those in need to call the number and be in good hands.”
Dr. Regina T. Praetorius, Professor at the UTA School of Social Work, poses for a photo. (Courtesy Photo)
Praetorius also explained that while the hotline exists for those experiencing suicidal ideation, it is also available for those who want to help someone but do not know how.
Praetorius’s connection with suicide prevention connects with her educational background and interests. Receiving a Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin, and a PhD in Adult Education from Louisiana State University with an emphasis on social work and suicide, she is well-versed in prevention techniques and methods.
Dr. Andrea Germany, an Assistant Professor of Practice at the School of Social Work, has worked in medical settings, schools and child welfare settings, and she has encountered clients dealing with suicide and suicidal ideation in each of them. She explained that no one is immune to these thoughts or actions, and that everyone reacts to stress, loss and other events in different ways.
“I think it's important to remember that everyone is different and has different warning signs,” Germany explained. “But some of the typical warning signs that some people may exhibit might include giving away things, losing interest in usual activities, telling people goodbye.”
Dr. Andrea Germany, an Assistant Professor of Practice at the School of Social Work, poses for a photo. (Courtesy Photo)
Beginning her educational journey with a Bachelor of Science in Family Studies and an MSW from the University of Southern Mississippi, and a Doctor of Social Work from Tulane University, Germany has worked as a case manager, social service professional, and school social worker, giving her a wealth of knowledge about suicidal ideation and prevention.
Both professors emphasize that the 988 Lifeline is not exclusively for people who are suicidal. Someone who feels overwhelmed, out of sorts or simply needs someone to talk to can also reach out.
“If you're asking questions regarding existence or are in emotional distress, then just call, have a conversation,” Germany said. “If you feel like something is wrong, just call.”
Praetorius also encourages people to seek help before a situation reaches a crisis point and to keep an eye on friends, loved ones and acquaintances to get them the help they need.
“The best way to prevent suicide is to get people help before they become suicidal,” she said. “If we can get people to help sooner, they can develop coping skills before their distress becomes more severe.”
Germany explained that when someone contacts 988 during a crisis, the goal is to provide immediate support and help connect the person with appropriate care. That can include risk assessment, safety planning, and connecting the person with a therapist or other resources.
“This is crisis intervention,” Germany explained. “Once the lifeline hands you off to a therapist, then the recovery process can begin. They will start getting to the bottom of what's causing those problems and try to find solutions.”
Social workers make up 40% of disaster mental health professionals and are the largest group of mental health professionals in the U.S., according to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). They affect lives and work to prevent suicide every day.
For students interested in developing these skills, Praetorius and Germany offer an elective course focused on suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. The course includes training in suicide risk assessment and safety planning. Ultimately, Praetorius explained that suicide prevention extends beyond a single month or awareness day. It means building connections, noticing changes in the people around us, and being willing to reach out.
“Mother Theresa has a quote: ‘ We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do,’” she said. “For some experiencing crisis, if they receive a smile from a stranger or someone they know, they could justify themselves. 'I brought happiness to someone; or I was seen and appreciated.' You could be the one smile they got that day that saved their lives.”
For information about joining the 988 Line as a volunteer, visit https://988lifeline.org/faq/promoting-or-joining-the-lifeline/faq-how-do-i-volunteer-or-get-a-job-at-the-988-lifeline/
For information about volunteering for the crisis text line, visit https://www.crisistextline.org/volunteer/
To help families bereaved by suicide, visit https://mhmrtarrant.org/local-outreach-to-suicide-survivors-loss/
If you’re experiencing a crisis or thoughts of suicide, call 988.