Student Health & Psychological Services at Rio Hondo College hosted a Suicide Prevention Outreach table at the Upper Quad on Sept. 9 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., as a part of Suicide Prevention Week.

Students at Rio Hondo were welcomed to visit and communicate with Coordinator Denna Sanchez and psychology interns Ryan Witherspoon and Dawn Glover who were present for the event.

A survey was available for anyone struggling with a mental problem, or simply to find out if they need help psychologically. Brief counseling sessions were available with Sanchez, Witherspoon and Glover.

Witherspoon, who is a clinical psychology intern at RHC student health and psychological services, expressed his concerns about the suicide rates in the United States among young people and his urge to offer help to students at Rio Hondo.

Suicide has become a serious problem in U.S. More than 34,000 people in U.S. commit suicide each year. People who have a mental illness or depression are the ones that are willing to escape from their pains by ending their lives.

If you or the people around you feel extremely stressful and depressed, or even consider committing suicide, it’s important to be aware about this type of issue and receive helps from others.

Besides suicide prevention, Rio Hondo College Student Health and Psychological Services is glad to offer short-term counseling, group psychotherapy, crisis intervention, psychoeducational workshops and programs and consultations and referral services.

These services are available to anyone who would like to discuss social and family relationships, romantic relationships, life transactions, stress, grief, sexuality, sexual assault, anxiety, or depression.

All counseling and services are provided by professional clinical psychologists and psychology graduate students and are free for all students enrolling in Rio Hondo.

The room is located in Student Services Building, Room SS230, and the hours available for services are 8:00 a.m. -6:30 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays and 8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. on Fridays.

Everyone who may be interested in making an appointment or would like additional information is welcomed to call (562) 908-3438 .