Earlier this week I found myself reading a shocking article in the Mental Health section of the MSNBC website. The title, “Half of college students consider suicide,†was both striking and terrifying.
As a college student myself, the facts presented in the article really hit home for me. I have written about anxiety and stress in college before, so in this article I will focus on things to look for in friends that could be warning signs of suicidal thoughts, and some resources to use for more information on the issue.
Although the article is from 2008, the facts ring true now as much as ever, especially in light of all recent tragic suicides of gay teens across the country. The survey reveals that half of all college students have thought about killing themselves, and 5% of students actually try to kill themselves. The MSNBC article also references the information in the survey that tries to give an explanation for the massive figure. It points to “growing levels of distress among college students and diminishing resources to handle the consequences.†And this article was even written before the stresses of the recession began to weigh heavily on college students.
Although there is not a set, absolute list of symptoms and warning signs that someone is planning to commit suicide, doctors have negotiated this list of things to be on the lookout for in friends or family. There are the list of typical symptoms that they teach you in grade school, including: person making a will, person suddenly visiting family and friends (one last time), person buying instruments of suicide, person experiencing mood swings, and a person who exhibits a loss of interest in life.
There are many other signs to be on the lookout for including: alcohol abuse, severe agitation, major change in personality, severe anxiety, hopelessness, and a difficulty handling schoolwork and relationships.
If you start to notice any signs or symptoms in a friend, the best thing you can do at first is to simply talk to them. Many people commit suicide, because they feel like they are alone, and have no one to talk to. Simply extending the hand of friendship, and allowing that person to talk about their problems is one of the best ways to prevent suicide. If it seems like someone is imminently interested in committing suicide, the best thing you can do is tell the mental health center on your college campus.
There are many other great resources out there for college students or anyone in general who may be thinking of suicide. Some great websites are Campus Blues, Go Ask Alice!, Samaritans, Ulifeline.org, and of course, the National Suicide Hotline. College counseling centers are usually free of charge for students, and they handle situations of students thinking about suicide often. Again, always be on the lookout for signs or symptoms that a friend may need some help, whether it be from you or a trained professional.
Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem!
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