Suicide Prevention: Help is Available 24/7

If you are contemplating suicide – or thinking about harming yourself – please reach out for support. You are not alone, and help is available. Things can get better.

If you’re in crisis, contact one of the resources listed above, or go to your local hospital emergency department.

For ongoing support, please schedule an appointment with a Cornell Health counselor as soon as possible. For urgent concerns, call us during business hours at 607-255-5155 – or stop in to Cornell Health – to access the first available appointment. 

Student Support and Advocacy Services in the Dean of Students Office can help connect you with and coordinate among campus support options for additional assistance. 

You can also talk with a trusted friend or family member, connect with a trained peer mentor through Cornell's EARS program, or contact any of the resources listed on the Mental Health at Cornell website.  

Remember ...

Suicidal thoughts, like all thoughts, are temporary. Suicide is permanent.

Depression and other mental health challenges can distort your perspective and make things seem worse than they truly are – or make you believe that you’ll never feel good again. But the pain or challenges you feel now will not last forever. Help is available AND help works.

Suicidal thinking can be treated. Depression has excellent recovery rates, as do many other mental illnesses. Know that you are not alone: there are numerous people and resources in Cornell's caring community who are here for you and who can help support you. 

In an emergency, call Cornell's Public Safety Communications Center at 607-255-1111.

Students can also call Cornell Health at 607-255-5155 for 24/7 consultation and support (when we’re closed, you will be connected with a licensed therapist from our on-call service).

For more information ...

• Students: Visit our Concern for Others page
• Staff and faculty members: Refer to our Resources for Faculty & Staff page
• Parents and families: Visit our Especially for Parents & Families page

Suicide prevention is a priority at Cornell University. In the United States, suicide is a leading cause of death among people of all ages, and the second leading cause of death among teens and emerging adults. 

Although suicide is somewhat less common among college students than among young adults who are not enrolled in college, recent studies show that college student rates of depression and anxiety are still very high. Left untreated, these mental health issues (among others) can lead to suicidal thinking.

At Cornell, student survey data illustrate the need for continued and sustained upstream mental health promotion strategies and mental health care services for students in distress. According to the most recent Cornell Undergraduate Experience (CUE) Survey: 

• 43.5% of Cornell undergraduate students reported being unable to function academically (e.g., missing classes, unable to study or complete homework) for at least a week due to depression, stress or anxiety.
• 11.9% of Cornell undergraduate students reported they seriously considered attempting suicide in the last year.
• 2.0% of Cornell undergraduate students reported they actually attempted suicide in the last year.

Historically, the average incidence of suicide at Cornell has been consistent with national averages. Across the U.S., mental health needs and concerns have increased on college campuses over the past several decades. In response, during the same time frame Cornell University has dedicated more resources and services toward mental health promotion, mental health care, and suicide prevention.

Cornell’s comprehensive approach to suicide prevention

Cornell’s comprehensive and integrated public health approach to suicide prevention is guided by the university’s Mental Health Framework, comprised of seven key priorities: foster a healthy educational environment; promote social connectedness and resilience; increase help-seeking behavior; identify people in need; provide medical and mental health services; deliver coordinated crisis management; and restrict access to means of suicide. 

Cornell’s approach to suicide prevention reflects the best practices advocated by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, The JED Foundation, the US Air Force Suicide Prevention Program, and The Steve Fund. 

Learn more on our Mental Health Initiatives page. 

Cornell’s commitment to means restriction as a suicide prevention strategy

Cornell has been widely recognized for its proactive response to a suicide cluster that occurred on campus during the 2009–2010 academic year. As part of its comprehensive approach to suicide prevention, Cornell – in partnership with the City of Ithaca – implemented permanent suicide means restriction efforts by installing suicide safety barriers, including steel wire mesh “nets” or vertical barriers, on eight bridges spanning deep gorges on or very near Cornell’s campus, as well as adjacent fencing along the cliff edges. This environmental strategy was selected to reduce jumping suicides while also preserving the unique and natural beauty of the gorges. 

Twelve years following the completion of the means restriction installation, Cornell Health’s Skorton Center for Health Initiatives evaluated the impact of the installations on the number of suicide jumps and the overall rate of suicide among Cornell enrolled students (from 2009–2022). The study found that the means restriction efforts contributed to a statistically significant reduction in lethal suicide jumps among all Cornell enrolled students. Additionally, the overall suicide rate among Cornell enrolled students trended downward after the barriers were installed. While this was not a statistically significant decrease, it is still a meaningful decline given that the national suicide rate continued to increase during the same time period. 

Learn more:
Skorton Center’s evaluation of means restriction on preventing jumping suicides at Cornell University   

Suicide is a public health issue. Media coverage of suicide can influence the public’s behavior – either negatively by contributing to a “contagion factor,” or positively by encouraging help-seeking. It is imperative that the media follow the reporting guidelines established by media and suicide-prevention experts. Please visit our Media Inquiries page for details.