Grad Help:
Why?
When Nick Repak, executive director of Grad Resources, began to sponsor the Grad Help Crisis Line,
he wished to provide graduate students with a resource in their most desperate time. While Kristin Brooks Hope Center
now sponsors the Grad Help Crisis Line, we thought it would br helpful to share Nick's thoughts on the creation of this resource
for graduate students in crisis:
As I listened to the haunting words of "Jumper," a song by Third Eye Blind about someone on
the edge of taking his life, I thought about the recent suicide of a 27-year old doctoral
candidate at Harvard. Tragically, his death was one of many on university campuses across
the country in the last ten years.
Reflecting on this sad reality, I asked myself, What drives a successful graduate student with
a promising future to such a desperate point, to believe there is no way out, and nothing
to live for? I realize there are some factors over which we have no control. But I had to
wonder if there were really enough messages out there telling graduate students that there is
someone who understands and can offer support.
We have an opportunity to offer help at a student's point of desperation,
before they harm themselves or another person. That's why we're
sponsoring a national graduate and professional student crisis line, 1-877-GRAD-HLP.
Most students will never need to call a crisis line. But for the few who may, they need to know
there is someone who understands. Let's get the word out. If just one person finds the
strength to make that call and step back from the ledge, it will be worth it.
Nick Repak
Executive Director
Grad Resources
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CRISIS LINE: