Mental Health Challenges on UW-Milwaukee’s Campus & How to Get Help

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Suicide is the act of an individual causing harm to themselves. Mental disorders, physical disorders, and substance abuse are some common risk factors. According to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner, in Milwaukee County, there are 500 cases of suicide. Some suicides can be due to stress at home, school, or work. This is the second leading cause of death for people aged 10 to 34. The highest rate of suicide occurs in persons 75 years of age or older, according to the American Psychiatric Association.

When you’re feeling depressed, prioritize self-care by engaging in activities you enjoy, seeking support from trusted friends or family, and consider professional help like therapy or medication, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. In Milwaukee County, suicide is a significant cause of death, showing a notable increase in suicide rates, especially among certain demographic groups like Black and Latinx residents, and a higher rate of suicide deaths compared to the state average, according to cdc.gov.

A man was found dead at Bradford Beach on the evening of Tuesday, March 4, 2025. A post-graduate student, 25-year-old Praveen Kumar Gampa, from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, was a postgraduate student from Telangana, India, who died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the Medical Examiner’s records.

In India, Times.com and another site falsely reported that the student was shot at the store during a robbery attempt where he worked. He was at Bradford Beach when he died. Then a pedestrian passing by found the man’s body. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the man died from suicide. He was identified on Thursday as Praveen Kumar Gampa.

The tragic death is a reminder that there are resources on campus for students in need.

When you think someone is self-harming, look out for signs, including unexplained cuts, bruises, or cigarette burns on any part of the body, like wrists, arms, thighs, and chest, or if they keep themselves fully covered, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services

“We can’t always know what someone else is experiencing, I think, notice signs, like a warning that someone might be thinking of harming themselves or thinking about suicide,” said Erika Hess, an associate director of clinical service at UWM.

When you are feeling depressed, you can also focus on healthy habits like exercise, balanced meals, and sleep. If you don’t feel like it, do things that are used to please you to improve your depression. Depression can also look different in men versus women, such as the symptoms they show and the behaviors they use to cope with them, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

“I recommend for students that they attend You Can Help, which is our suicide prevention training program you can leaning how to support other people,” said Hess on the UWM campus.

When you know someone is thinking of suicide or killing themselves, you can ask them directly if they have thought about suicide. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, you can ask if they are feeling suicidal and can bring them relief because someone will finally acknowledge how bad they are feeling. If that someone does not feel comfortable talking to you, ask them if there is someone else, they would feel comfortable talking to. If you’re not worried about their immediate safety, you can let them know you will always be available to talk and ask if it’s ok for you to check in again.

The UW-Milwaukee campus has a Health and Wellness Center for all students who attend the college. There is counseling support for the mental wellness of every student. They have a wide range of care for UWM students who need them beyond their care. This is free for all students who go for counseling support on campus.

“Student health and wellness center can help with your mental health other things where somebody can find purpose and meaning it can connect you with things like journalism, outdoor clubs and many more, when a student first comes to the health and wellness center we do a 20 minute phone call to learn about what the students need for mental health,” said Hess.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the virus itself have significantly impacted mental health, with many experiencing increased anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders, and some developing mental illnesses or disorders following infection, long COVID-19 symptoms related to brain function and mental health. Many people reported having symptoms of anxiety and depression during the pandemic, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

“There’s some interesting research out there about how COVID has impacted mental health,” said Hess.

In this research, before the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of depression symptoms in US adults was 16.2% for mild symptoms and 5.7% for moderate symptoms. According to the National Institutes of Health, in this study, these rates significantly increased during the pandemic, with mild symptoms rising to 24.6% and moderate symptoms to 14.8%. A lot of people experienced loneliness. 

SERVICES for Mental Health

 Some services:

             Let’s Talk: https://uwm.edu/wellness/counseling/lets-talk/

            Group:  https://uwm.edu/wellness/counseling/group-offerings/

             Mindfulness Workshops: https://uwm.edu/wellness/mindfulness/mindfulness-programming/

       The Mindful Space – coming back soon!: https://uwm.edu/wellness/the-mindful-space/

            Online Resources, including You@UWM: https://uwm.edu/wellness/counseling/online-self-help-resources/

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Check the Student Health and Wellness website for
more information https://uwm.edu/wellness/
 
  If this is an emergency
Call the police at 911 or 9 911 from a campus phone. 
 
If you need immediate medical or mental health crisis support, utilize
One of the 24/7 resources below: Ascension/Columbia St. Mary’s
Emergency Room 414-291-1200 (2301 N Lake Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53211 )

UW Mental Health Support 24/7 Call or Text (888) 531-2142, or send a
Chat in the UW Mental Health Support 24/7


Milwaukee County 24/7 Crisis Line 414-257-7222

Aurora Healing and Advocacy Services (formerly Sexual Assault
Treatment Center)  414-219-5555

Sojourner 24-Hour Domestic Violence Hotline and Shelter 414-933-2722

UWM Mental Health Resources On-Campus

  • Self-Care Wellness Hub
  • You.uwm.edu
  • On-campus mindfulness Spots and Resources
  • Uwm.edu/wellness/mindfulness
  • Peer-to-peer connections
  • Uwm.edu/wellness/counseling/togetherall/
  • Let’s talk.
  • Uwm.edu/wellness/counseling/lets-talk
  • Alcohol and Other Drug Support
  • Uwm.edu/BASICS
  • Counseling Services
  • Uwm.edu/wellness/counseling
  • Mantra Health
  • uwm.edu/wellness/mantra-health
  • 24/7 Support and Crisis
  • UW Mental Health Support 24/7 – 1-888-531-2142