By: Iris Barnes
CLEVELAND, Miss. -- Delta State University is one of 40 colleges and universities nationwide to get a Substance Abuse and Mental Services Administration grant to address suicide prevention among college students. 

Dr. Richard Houston is head of the school’s counseling center and said, “Among college students, suicide is the second leading cause of death.”  But he said there are not a lot of resources available in the Mississippi Delta to treat depression or suicide.  “So, that’s a real benefit of this grant.  It will allow us to do a significant amount of training to our faculty and staff, as well as training student leaders in recognizing it.”

Houston adds that they will also be working with communities and families.  “We will try to make them aware of some warning signs so that if a student returns to their home and is away from school, they will still have some support.”

September is Suicide Prevention Month.  If you are someone you know is considering suicide, you can call the National Suicide Hotline at 800-273-Talk for help.