In the aftermath of a campus tragedy, it’s normal to feel sadness, anxiety, fear or any mix of these emotions. We encourage people to reach out to family, friends or counselors to express their feelings and explore effective and healthy ways to cope with their emotions. 

In the next few days and weeks, it will be important to look out for each other – be particularly aware of warning signs that someone is feeling hopeless or in distress. The signs could include withdrawing and isolating oneself, not sleeping or sleeping all the time, increased use of drugs or alcohol and talking about death or dying. For more information for yourself, families and campus community members.  

If you or someone you know is experiencing signs of distress, please reach out to UofSC’s Counseling & Psychiatry; call 803-777-5223 if you need to talk to someone or come to our office on the second floor of the Thomson building. 

If it is after hours, you can access the counseling center by calling 803-777-5223, the Columbia Area Mental Health Center at 803-898-8888 or the University Police at 803-777-4215. 

Other resources 

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-8255, has people available to talk 24 hours a day every day. The Trevor Lifeline, 1-866-488-7386, is available 24/7 for LGBTQ individuals. You can also get anonymous, free support by texting START to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. 

Find more information about helping a student who has lost a friend or family member to suicide,  

For support for faculty or staff, the Employee Assistance Program is available and offers counseling services. Click here to get started. Use username ‘usc’ and password ‘guest’ to get started.