World Suicide Prevention Day (Sep. 10)
Suicide is a major public health challenge with complex social, emotional, and economic causes and effects. This year for World Suicide Prevention Day, the World Health Organization is calling on people to “Start the Conversation” with the goal of “Changing the Narrative on Suicide”—raising awareness, reducing stigma, and encouraging open dialog to prevent suicides.
If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for a list of additional resources. Go here for resources outside the United States.
Additional mental health resources for WHOI students and staff:
For students
- MIT’s office of Graduate education offers assistance in many ways through the Grad Support team: https://oge.mit.edu/student-support-development/gradsupport/. If you feel you need help connecting to grad support, feel free to reach out to the APO office.
For all staff
- KGA: You can take advantage of the KGA assistance program https://my.kgalifeservices.com/ (use company code: WHOI)
- Chaplain/Counselor: Marney Rathbun is at WHOI as a chaplain/counselor trained at the Harvard Divinity School. She is a resource to all WHOI students and employees for counseling, grief support, spiritual care, LGBTQIA+ support, and addiction counseling—or if you just need a listening ear.
- Mental Health employee resource group (ERG): WHOI’s Mental Health ERG is an additional resource you may reach out to; you can email whoimentalhealth@whoi.edu or contact co-chairs Mary Gaylord and Mai Maheigan to learn about group events and other resources.
- People Ops resources: If you find yourself dealing with conflict, please reach out to Shawna Hunt in People Operations at shawna.hunt@whoi.edu.
- WHOI’s Ombuds office led by Alicia Booker: Alicia.booker@whoi.edu provides confidential, neutral, impartial, and independent conflict resolution assistance to WHOI employees.