Suicide on Campus

[Breeze54]

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students!

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http://www.utexas.edu/student/cmhc/booklets/suicide/suicide.html

Suicide on Campus

Problems that precipitate suicide are usually temporary ones--unfortunately,
suicide is a permanent solution to these temporary troubles.
Life's difficulties can be extremely painful and may appear to last forever; however,
better times do happen. Survivors of attempted suicide consistently express relief that
their attempt failed.
Tragically, increasing numbers of young adults are choosing this option.

A recent study shows that over the last 30 years the suicide rate in young people has more than tripled.
The most dramatic increase in the suicide rate has occurred in the 15 to 24 age bracket (up 312%),
followed by the 20- to 24-year-old age group (up 163%)--both traditional college-age groups.
The most sobering statistic is that suicide is second only to automobile accidents
as the leading cause of death among 18- to 24-year-olds.

Leaving familiar community and family support systems and adjusting to the demands
and responsibilities of a new environment is stressful, especially for freshmen.

This is one reason why college students are at high risk.

No one can afford to ignore such a troublesome reality.

This brochure is written to encourage the student to seek non-destructive
solutions to the stress of modern times and to reaffirm the sanctity of life.

Depression:
Signs of clinical depression include:

Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and/or worthlessness
Insomnia or excessive sleeping
Significant appetite loss or gain
Decreased interest or pleasure in previously enjoyable activities
Themes of death in artwork, poetry and/or conversation
Previous Attempts: 4 out of 5 who actually commit suicide
have tried to do so at least once previously.

Significant Loss:
Any real or perceived loss such as a relationship breakup,
loss of status/prestige, death, or physical impairment.

Alcohol or Other Drug Abuse:
If a person cannot say "No" to a drug or control the amount used,
there is a substance abuse problem.

Suicide Plan:
The more specific the plan, the more serious the intent.

Giving Possessions Away.

Talking About Suicide:
This may be stated directly--"I'm going to kill myself."
Or indirectly--"You would be better off without me,"
or, "Soon you won't have to worry about me anymore."

A Few Myths About Suicide
http://www.utexas.edu/student/cmhc/booklets/suicide/suicide.html#Myths

Suicide and College Students
http://www.suicidereferencelibrary.com/test4~id~1372.php

http://healthyliving.allinfo-about.com/suicide.html
Because suicide is the second biggest cause of death of college students,
the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is targeting them with a
documentary and screening program to help identify those students at risk.

Although suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students,
there are currently limited resources within the college community to help
students deal with this pressing issue.
In an effort to combat the alarming suicide rate among college students,
the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) has launched the
College Screening Project — a pilot program aimed at identifying college
students at risk for suicide and encouraging them to get the help they need.

[Mnemosyne]

1. Important. -knr- n/t

[cally]

2. yes, and colleges cannot notify parents

legally. There are students kicked out of school because of suicide attempts. Help is not always available or people are not able to ask for help. I think we need to change the law to make it easier to notify friends and family when someone is in trouble.

[nealmhughes]

3. I have had over 240 freshmen in western civ 2X 3 years, then more

than I could ever count as an academic librarian.

Any "real" college (that means large) has a counselling center. It is staffed by licensed practicioners and is there for anyone in the university/college community, from deans to faculty to faculty to the support staff. I don't know about small schools, though. I have never attended or been a part of a small college.

I have sent many students there. No questions asked, never brought up by me again unless they wish to talk to me without my prompting. But I have seen a student hold my block hostage with a gun shooting out of a window and another who set the apartment building I lived in on fire in order to kill himself. I did not know either of them, luckily, but I can guarantee their professors were wondering "Could I have done something?"

Grad students are especially prone to extreme stress induced actions at the start and end of their graduate careers, i.e., when they have to deal with their own students and a completely new way of relating to the faculty and their haze at how a seminar is run then they get it and after a year are at home, until they get to thesis/comprehensive exam time. They they freak again. Those writing dissertations are the same, first relief at having passed the exams then the push of getting funded and doing the research for the dissertation. Then once finished and have the initials behind their names, the job search is underway....

Undergrads are different, of course, most seem to like being away from home, staying up as late as they wish and going out nightly. The first semester should not be taken seriously by any educator, as only the most sophisticated students are not in awe of their freedoms and allow their study habits to slip. Unfortunately, some are under stress of feeling not fitting in (wtf, kids, nobody cares but you about your high school nightmares and glories or failures). They are busy trying to enjoy beer and learning to do laundry without mom there.

Then those who don't just flow into the routine and have a lot of issues that need addressing are the ones who are most in danger. They feel that not being on the Dean's List every semester means they have let down their families and themselves. Add to the trauma of all the Sophomore boys who have learned that Freshmen are too shy to approach Freshmen women, so they break their hearts, just another notch in the condom holster...

Then as they get ready to graduate, they worry about grad school, about getting a job if not going to graduate school and what they make on the GRE, etc., funding..

And funding is always a concern except for the students who are lucky enough to have enough family wealth to bankroll their education with no strings attached.

Yep, there is a lot of stress in college, with about 2 years of it being "easy" to deal with, and those are the sophomore and junior years.

[Breeze54]

4. You're a wealth of information!

Thanks!

About small colleges:
I went to 2 small colleges and one had a formal support system with counselors etc.
The other was informal but also very supportive and helpful to students.
Sort of like a 'family' environment. They really cared about the students too.
I think large or small, in that environment, people really want to help.

;)

[Codeblue]

7. Funny thing

I graduated high school with a 2.8 GPA.

My first year of college away from home, I had a 3.4 and a 3.66. Thought it was strange. Now that it's my senior year I am back to a 2.8 again.

[Breeze54]

5. I'd have to agree with you!

I didn't know that suicide was the second most reason for death among college students!
That's a frightening statistic! I wonder if all parents are informed of this by the colleges?
If not, they should be! Parents should demand it!

[Swamp Rat]

6. This is an important post but I was immediately struck by the fact that

automobile accidents are the leading cause of death on college campuses. :wow:

The speed limit at my university is 10 mph in most areas and 20 mph in a couple of areas. What the hell is going on?

[sweetpotato]

8. About the auto accidents

The article said that auto accidents are the number one killer of college aged people, not necessarily "deaths on campus."

College aged people drive all over the place.

[Swamp Rat]

9. Good point

The Title is "Suicide on Campus," so I thought they were referring to deaths that occur on campus.

[kineneb]

10. untreated depression kills

my family is a witness. College can be liberating or it can be overwhelming. I had a major depressive episode in my second year of grad school (in 2001), even though I was in maintenence treatment and seeing a shrink. It took me over 6 months to recover, and I still feel as though I lost something along the way. If it were not for the medical care I had, I might have become a statistic. I still have not written my thesis; I hope I can get it done before the deadline.