Preventing Suicides Among College Students
There are few moments in life more thrilling and transitional, then when a young person leaves for college. It is a monumental event, and the on-set of adulthood, with its “real life” experiences, challenges, the fine nuisances that being self-reliant, responsible, organized, sociable, studious, and focused, bring at this time of life, if you are a perfect person. The human condition, however, needs time to adjust to the vagaries of college life. Studying, without parental encouragement, choosing a major field of study that will morph into a successful career path in the future, getting good grades, adjusting to sharing personal spaces, and building relationships with peers and professors; all of these new skills, and expectations, can take a toll on any matriculating student.
The sudden loss of the comfortable, support system that home, family, familiar spaces, friends and unconditional love brings, adds to the stress of seeking significant levels of higher education. If a pre-existing mental health condition has gone undiagnosed, such as anxiety or depression, the additional stressors found in college life, can manifest into significant symptoms, and emotional difficulties, which make academic life extremely difficult.
Mental Health is Now a Critical Issue for College Students
Dr. Kelly Posner, assistant professor of clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University, has stated that suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students. It is an extremely complex public health issue, often having multiple causes.
Dr. Posner’s work has revealed that the transition to the college atmosphere, and new responsibilities of self-management, coupled with a lack of adequate sleep, and improper diet, often bring about the on-set of biologically-based illnesses of the brain, like depression and bipolarity, that had not been previously experienced. According to the JED Foundation, a non-profit resource center for young adult emotional health, 1 in 1000 students who extensively contemplate ending their life, do commit suicide.
What Stressors Trigger Depression and Suicidal Ideation?
The intense challenges of the college years, in this generation of perfectionism, coupled with mental health issues, substance abuse, and being far from a strong support system, can lead to feelings of an intense pressure to perform well academically. This rising pressure culminates into severe anxiety. Intense internal conflicts also play a part in seeking emotional release and relief. New and unique social relationship issues add to the overload of stressors on an already vulnerable student mindset. Researchers noted that two-thirds of transgender student’s self-harm, while one-third attempt suicide during the college years. 25% of bisexual students attempt suicide while involved in scholastic pursuits, and intense personal relationships. Constant financial concerns, GPA expectations, either self-driven, or from family members, and alcohol or drug consumption, also add to a student’s inability, and capacity to cope with their environs in positive ways. Often, students are new to the unrestricted drug and alcohol usage scenario. According to the American Association of Suicidology; substance abuse adds to the destabilization of the user, and triggers the paranoia of any mental health issues, such as personality disorders, anger management, depression, and suicidal ideation.
Sadly, a great number of students suffering from mental health problems, do not seek professional help. Often, loved ones in a student’s life, lack the comprehensive knowledge of what “signs” to look for, when determining the diminishing mental health of their cherished child, who is away at school, not communicating well, and suffering in silence.
Combating Increasing Suicidal Ideation with On Campus Counseling
The escalating rise in the numbers of collegians who are coping, by contemplating suicidal ideation, whether pre-occupational, or specific and continuous, leading to fulfillment, are staggering. Some research estimates that 34% of all students in the United States, have these thoughts at some point during their residence at school. The good news is that more than ever, students are seeking help from the college counseling services. However, due to a serious lack of resources, and the fact that most campuses do not, or cannot, offer low cost, long-term health care, or have in place, access for students to off-campus resources for mental health issues; there needs to be an increased effort to allocate funding for such programs, based on the dire need, and the fact that the death is desired, rather than an educated life.
Little sensitivity exists for students who are struggling with depression and anxiety, from peers who see them as uncompetitive, and a burden to their peers. This kind of bias feeds the stigma that keeps suffering students from seeking the help they desperately need.
Colleges Must Make Health Care Management a “Norm”
Shelly Leaphart-Williams, a board member for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, has suggested strongly that colleges must step up to change the attitudes regarding mental health issues, since the commonality of this problem reaches out to encompass everyone now. 61% of the students enrolled in college today, have reported serious issues with anxiety, hopelessness, and depression, in the last 12 months, as is stated by the National College Health Assessment group’s survey results. To be fair, college counseling services have increased by 30% over the last five years, but offering three, free, counseling sessions is just not enough support, and professional help must be found off-campus, by the student. Often, students are not made aware of the support that is available on campus. This information needs to be disseminated, prominently, as an essential part of the matriculation process, just like choosing a major, or finding a special, accelerated class to attend.
What Parents, Guardians and Friends Must Do
Parents need to pay attention to a loved one who is attending school, by calling, visiting, e-mailing, Skyping, texting and sending care packages, with messages of support. Letting the student know that they have earned their place in college, by being accepted, and that they can share any and every doubt, and concern, with their family, or seek counseling, to get the coping skills needed for this challenging experience. If grades slip, and communication is irregular, or a “gut feeling” indicates that something is not right, do the footwork to be there for this collegian. Often, suicidal ideation passes, or only occurs occasionally, until a return to normal takes place in their campus life. Being prepared for emotional peaks and valleys, which your college kid experiences, just like during their adolescenc; may make an enormous difference in the way they bounce back, and gain the coping skills which will assist them for the future. Remember, too, if they need professional help, it is a wise and courageous choice. Everyone has issues, and any stigma associated with seeking answers for overwhelming feelings, represents ignorance, and will, in time, no longer be tolerated.
